For the eighth time, representatives of Ukrainian water utilities, authorities, business industry, and specialized international organizations gathered in Lviv for the main event of the water industry, Lviv Eco Forum’23. This year’s Forum is being held under the motto “Let’s Restore Ukraine Together”. Ukrainian and foreign experts discussed the work of the water and sewerage sector during the war – losses, risks, recovery; projects and assistance from international organizations; European experience of sustainable transformation and recovery of the industry. The event was organized by Ukrvodokanalekolohiia, the Association of Water Companies of Ukraine, with the support of UNICEF in cooperation with the Lviv Environmental Foundation and Lviv City Council.

The event was attended by over 270 participants, including members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Environment, the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities, representatives of local governments, international donors, guests from Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, Switzerland, experts, 53 representatives of water utilities and over 50 business companies from Ukraine and abroad.

The event was opened by the mayor of the host city, Andrii Sadovyi: “Today, representatives of all water utilities are incorporated into one big family. We are not distinguished by the name of cities or water utilities, because today all communities are under the agressor’s attack. Many representatives of our utilities are at the war, on the front line. Many are wounded and, unfortunately, we have lost many. That is why our victory will have two parts: de-occupation of all our lands and reconstruction of Ukraine.

You can live without many services, but you cannot live without water. Water is life. And everyone here is doing their part to ensure that the water supply industry not only survives, but develops. One of the most sensitive issues today is the development of tariff policy. It is important to come up with the right pricing, because it is difficult to develop without investments.

I also believe that it would be very apt to establish a kind of “Water Residence” in Lviv, so that representatives of water utilities from different cities of Ukraine could come here and share their experience with international colleagues. We need to know what is being done in the world in this area and work on a par with modern posibilities”.

One of the important issues of the Forum was the discussion of legislation in the water supply sector. According to Oleksandr Butenko, Deputy Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine, the new laws and the developed legislative acts of the specialized ministry will be examined. In particular, the official emphasized: “Today, our priority is to develop the water supply industry. In wartime conditions, we are focused on helping the affected cities and enterprises. We have stable communication with all international donor agencies. I am grateful to all international partners for their support”.

International expert Martin Grambow, a representative of the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection, emphasized that cooperation with Ukraine has been going on for more than 20 years and elaborated: “We have come to the Forum to listen, to hear your ideas and understand how we can help. I will pass on everything I hear from you to all water utilities in Germany, to our entire water family. We are willing and ready to support you. We are waiting for you in the European Union. We want this to happen as soon as possible and for the entire water family in Europe to cooperate together,” said Martin Grambow.

International organizations, including UNICEF Ukraine, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ukraine, IOM Ukraine, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), GIZ Ukraine, Water4Ukraine, etc. provided strong support and invaluable assistance to Ukrainian water utilities. “It is a great joy to see all of you together in Lviv these days. After all, utilities can only associate autumn with one thing – meeting at the Lviv Eco Forum,” said Dmytro Vankovych, one of the founders of the event, director of Lvivvodokanal. Dmytro presented symbolic Steel Lions awards for sustainability and endurance to Kherson Vodokanal and Kryvbaspromvodopostachannia.

A special award for charity was presented to Grundfos. The common wish of all participants of Lviv Eco Forum’23 was that the next IX Lviv Eco Forum would be held in peaceful Ukraine.