Formula of a Ukrainian River: Results of Chemical Research of the Siversky Donets and the Dniester Basins, New Risks and Prospects. Presentation

According to the Ukraine-European Union Association Agreement, Ukraine is to comply with the provisions of so-called EU Water Framework Directive, which aims at achieving good ecological status of waters. One of the steps in the implementation of the Directive is to find out current chemical status of the water bodies, which is a basis for development of the river basin management plans.

Chemical research (screening) of the two rivers was performed upon request of the Government of Ukraine. The study in the Siverskyi Donets was carried out in the framework of the project by the OSCE Project Coordinator in Ukraine “Assistance to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine in improving environmental monitoring mechanisms”, and in the Dniester - within the GEF / UNDP / OSCE / UNECE project “Enabling Transboundary Co-operation and Integrated Water Resources Management in the Dniester River Basin”.

Water, sediments and fish were analyzed for presence of several thousand substances, with dozens of pollutants discovered in the rivers: pesticides, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, surfactants, plasticizers, sweeteners, narcotic substances.

Representatives of relevant government bodies, international organizations and experts will discuss the results of the first large-scale analyzes of this type in two river basins, including the potential impact on ecosystems and human health. Measures to reduce pollution will also be discussed.

Speakers:

1. Mr Mykhaylo Khorev, Acting Head of the State Water Agency of Ukraine
2. Mr Mykhaylo Malkov, Deputy Coordinator of FAO Programmes in Ukraine
3. Ms Alla Koblyanska, Head of Department for State and International Relations in the State Institution “Institute of Public Health after O.M. Marzeev”
4. Mr Vitaliy Bashinsky, FAO Expert on Antimicrobial Resistance
5. Ms Tamara Kutonova, Regional Coordinator of the GEF Dniester Project, OSCE

Additional information: Andrii Dziubenko, National Communications Officer of the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, Mobile: +380 67 239 39 51 and +380 50 676 77 34  andrii.dziubenko@osce.org.

In view of the announced decisions by Ukraine’s authorities and Kyiv City regarding measures to mitigate risks of COVID2019 outbreak, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator is reviewing the planned for March activities with the view to cancel or reschedule those that fall under those decisions. Invitees of such events will be informed accordingly, on a case-by-case basis.The event Presentation "Formula of a Ukrainian River: Results of Chemical Research of the Siversky Donets and the Dniester Basins, New Risks and Prospects (Формула річки: результат дослідженя Сіверського Дінця та Дністра)  is to be held as planned, as it doesn’t fall under the aforesaid decisions. However, we strongly encourage those journalists and environmental experts who were planning to come to reconsider their decision and make full use of the live streaming of the event:

Ukrainian streaming: https://youtu.be/4CerA9_gWaw

English streaming: http://uacrisis.org/ua/stream#en

it is also possible make use of digital technologies to pose your questions byA) posting them to the Event in our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/496227927729616/B) sending them by an e-mail to: andrii.dziubenko@osce.org. The event orgnanisers will do their best to respond during the presentation or afterwards.