Prominent Ukrainian hydrogeologist, Ph.D., Corresponding Member of the International Academy ofEcology and Life Safety Ivan Zalessky appealed to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights MichelleBachelet and authorized employees of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights inconnection with the information campaign launched by Russia regarding the cso called “humanitariancatastrophe “ in Crimea.
I.I. Zalessky declares that he, as the scientist who has devoted his entire life to the hydrogeology ofUkraine, cannot hear the arguments of the occupation authorities in Crimea about the alleged “acuteshortage of water resources to provide the population”. In fact, the scientist claims, even before theattempt of annexation of Crimea, the complex of geological survey work was carried out, whichconfirmed the theoretical calculations that “the water resources of the Crimea exceed the currentneeds of the peninsula, but they are not evenly distributed and are not used rationally”.
The actions of the Russian authorities to provide Crimea with water, according to I.I. Zalessky, were“expectant” in nature. Allegedly, “Ukraine would “come to its senses” and restart the supply ofDnieper water to the North Crimean Canal”, that was built in the 20th century as an irrigationhydraulic structure to meet exclusively the needs of agriculture and partly industry. Indeed, over time,up to 20 % of the canal’s water began to be used for household and drinking water supply to citiesand rural settlements of Crimea, but at the same time replenishing the canal from local undergroundand aboveground sources.
Ivan Zalessky refers to the statistics of the occupiers in 2015, according to which the total volume ofwater intake in Crimea amounted to 253.46 million cubic meters, including from surface sources –138.47 millions and groundwater – 95.13 millions. At the same time, there were no statements about“lack of water for the population”, these volumes significantly exceed the population’s water needs.According to such statistics, as of 2019, “the explored and estimated reserves of groundwater with asalinity of up to 1.5 grams per liter are 386 million cubic meters per year”. Therefore, only the
reserves of explored groundwater can satisfy the demand for fresh water one and a half times greaterthan the volume of total water withdrawal in 2015 from all sources.
As the Ukrainian scientist proved in his appeal to the UN, an elementary prioritization, taking intoaccount universal human values, in water supply issues will resolve any humanitarian catastrophe. Theprimary and exclusive provision of the Crimean population with drinking quality water from artesianwells, the rational use of water, in particular treated waste water, in agriculture and industry, adecrease in the volume of water losses during transportation and treatment (up to 13 million cubicmeters annually) – this is not a complete list of measures, which will provide normal living conditionsfor Crimeans on the peninsula. The scientist urged the UN to take into account the fact that theresponsibility for everything that happens in Crimea lies with Russia, to take into account only thedata that objectively reflects the situation of the peninsula`s water supply.
