Spring floods: is Ukraine ready for the “big water”?
3 March 14:50
Natural conditions for spring flooding have formed in Ukraine, and key hydraulic structures are ready to safely pass large amounts of water. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Iryna Ovcharenko on Suspilne TV, according to the ministry, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to her, the water level in many rivers has already risen by an average of 2.5 meters.
Where the situation is most evident
Hydrologists predict possible flooding across virtually the entire country. The most noticeable changes are recorded:
- in the Siverskyi Donets basin in the Kharkiv region;
- in the Cherkasy region;
- in the Odesa region, where five settlements have already experienced partial flooding of households.
In Kyiv, local flooding is possible in floodplain areas, particularly in the Natalka Park, Hydropark, Rusanskiy Gardens, Osokorky, and Trukhaniv Island areas.
What could complicate the situation
Additional risk factors include ice drift and possible ice jams. During melting, they can cause local flooding or even damage to hydraulic structures.
According to the official, a sharp deterioration is only possible if several factors coincide: intense snowmelt, heavy precipitation, and the formation of ice jams at the same time.
Is the infrastructure ready?
According to the ministry, all state-owned hydraulic structures have been inspected and are ready to withstand floods and high water. The spring period, according to the ministry, is key for checking their condition.
At the same time, the situation on small rivers and unmanaged or private hydraulic structures remains problematic. It is there that local flooding most often occurs — due to clogging, wear and tear, and lack of repairs.
Local communities are advised to pay attention to these facilities now.
Last August, record low water reserves in reservoirs were reported due to low water levels — the lowest in decades. This year’s situation shows the opposite trend: water is returning to riverbeds more actively than in previous years.
