Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture approves State Water Monitoring Programme for 2026

The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine has approved the State Water Monitoring Programme for 2026. The document specifies where and how the state will monitor water quality throughout the year in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and underground sources from which millions of Ukrainians obtain drinking water.

Specialists from the State Water Agency, the State Emergency Service and the State Service of Geology and Subsoil across the country will regularly take water samples using a unified methodology at 553 designated points on rivers, lakes and reservoirs, as well as at 587 points for groundwater – at boreholes and other sources of drinking water.

This will enable year-on-year comparison of indicators, tracking of changes in water quality, and timely detection of pollution and risks to the environment and drinking water supply. Surface waters will be tested for biological, chemical and physico-chemical parameters, while groundwater will be assessed for water quantity and its chemical and physico-chemical composition, including the presence of pollutants.

“State water monitoring is a key tool for protecting the country’s water resources and public health. The programme enables us not only to record the condition of water but also to detect pollution in advance, assess risks and make decisions that guarantee Ukrainians access to safe drinking water. It is also an important step towards meeting European Union environmental standards and achieving sustainable water resource management,” noted Iryna Ovcharenko, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.

In addition, the Programme pays particular attention to the Danube basin. In 2026, Ukraine will hold the presidency of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), which brings together basin countries and coordinates cooperation in the protection and monitoring of waters. In connection with this, the document strengthens monitoring in the Danube region and adds new observation points – to ensure high-quality control of water status in this strategically important basin and to fulfil Ukraine’s international commitments.

Importantly, in 2026 diagnostic monitoring of groundwater will be resumed, which had previously not been carried out due to a lack of funding.