The Regional Development Agency of Volyn Region has brought together the Horokhiv, Lokachyn and Pavlivka communities to develop an initiative aimed at conserving and using drinking water resources efficiently through the modernisation of centralised water supply systems.
The initiative, to be implemented with the support of the Swiss-Ukrainian UCORD project, brings together three Volyn communities located along the Great European Watershed to modernise water supply systems, improve the energy efficiency and energy independence of municipal enterprises, and establish sustainable mechanisms for intermunicipal cooperation.
“For the UCORD project, initiatives that bring communities and regional partners together around shared infrastructure solutions are particularly valuable. The project in Volyn is a strong example of such cooperation: three communities are jointly implementing an initiative aimed at improving the reliability of water supply, energy efficiency and the resilience of water systems in the context of the war. The Regional Development Agency of Volyn Region plays an important coordination and expert role in the project’s preparation and implementation support. We are convinced that partnerships like these lay the foundation for the sustainable development of communities and regions and for improving people’s quality of life,” said Maryna Bryl, UCORD Project Manager.
The initiative will help ensure high-quality water supply services for approximately 18,000 residents, representing 40% of the total population of the three communities. It will also reduce drinking water losses, decrease the number of network failures, and lower electricity consumption by municipal enterprises.
The joint project includes the reconstruction of power supply systems, including the installation of renewable energy sources (solar photovoltaic systems) at water intake facilities, the replacement of pumping and electrical equipment, the establishment of control rooms, and the introduction of a monitoring system at wells across all three communities to enable efficient and timely network management. The total project budget amounts to CHF 745,600, with 80% provided through UCORD grant funding and 20% contributed from local budgets. Implementation is planned for May–November 2026.
The initiative was made possible by consolidating individual community projects into a single project portfolio. To support its implementation, the communities plan to sign an intermunicipal cooperation agreement for the implementation of joint projects. In addition, as part of the initiative, the communities plan to update and align their local water supply and wastewater development programmes, enabling them to continue benefiting from intermunicipal cooperation.
The Regional Development Agency of Volyn Region is responsible for preparing the comprehensive project proposal. Subject to a successful independent evaluation and approval of the proposal, a grant agreement will be signed and the initiative will proceed to implementation. The initiative also aims to strengthen the Agency’s institutional capacity to prepare and implement infrastructure projects that enhance regional competitiveness.
“This initiative represents a new quality of inter-municipal partnership for the Volyn Regional Development Agency. Our team is coordinating cooperation among the participating communities, supporting the preparation of the project proposal, and providing assistance throughout the initiative in line with international requirements and donor standards. At the same time, the modernisation of water supply systems in three neighbouring communities lays the foundation for developing joint approaches and effective mechanisms for inter-municipal cooperation, which can subsequently be further developed and scaled up in other communities and regions,” said Orest Sorokopud, Director of the Volyn Regional Development Agency.
Representatives of the participating communities share their perspectives on the significance of the initiative:
Viktor Hodyk, Mayor of Horokhiv: “For the Horokhiv community, reliable and high-quality water supply is one of our key priorities, which is why we initiated the preparation of this inter-municipal project. Its implementation will enable the modernisation of water supply systems across the three communities and strengthen their energy resilience.”
Bohdan Ius, Mayor of Lokachyn: “This is an extremely important project for all three communities, with residents set to be the primary beneficiaries. For the first time, three different types of communities — a city, a settlement, and a village community — have joined forces to implement a project of this scale through inter-municipal cooperation. It is particularly important that the Volyn Regional Development Agency is coordinating the process and facilitating communication among the partners. We hope for a positive decision and a swift start to implementation.”
Andrii Sapozhnyk, Mayor of Pavliv: “Ensuring access to high-quality drinking water is a critical priority for us, as it directly affects the well-being and comfort of our residents. At the same time, we are convinced that the development of communities today is impossible without partnership and cooperation with neighbouring communities. We are grateful to the Regional Development Agency for bringing us together around shared solutions and helping to launch initiatives that matter to people. Our joint efforts have already provided a strong start, and we are confident that even more results for the development of our communities lie ahead.”
The Swiss-Ukrainian project “Ukraine’s Cohesion and Regional Development”, UCORD, is implemented with the support of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation by NIRAS Sweden AB.
For a website photo credit/caption, I’d translate it as:
Illustrative photo: NGO “Misto. Rebut”