Recently, there have been discussions about raising the level of the Oleksandrivka Reservoir to 20.7 m. Historians, ecologists, water resource specialists, technical specialists and public activists make many arguments for and against, but it is difficult for ordinary citizens to understand the rightness of each party without special knowledge and training.
We also don’t stand aside this problem. On the basis of personal experience and results of our own researches that are regularly conducted since 2011 (since the construction of the company’s first transshipment terminal on the Southern Buh River (“Novoodes’ka” branch), we will try to prove that these measures are ineffective.
The Southern Buh River is not only a waterway for the company to transport grain cargoes, a source of water supply for its branches, but also a natural object with extremely picturesque landscapes and sceneries.
As water users, we regularly monitor the situation on the Southern Buh River in the area of our facilities. According to the results, it is obvious that there is negative impact of regulated flows and river dependence on the releases* from the reservoir: water stagnation, mud accumulation, aquatic vegetation.
The river loses its natural self-purification properties. Anomalously hot summer andinsufficient volumes of sanitary releases from the reservoir have been the reason for fall in water level below the critical level for several years, which affects the movement of salt water from the mouth to Nova Odesa. Increasing the water salinity leads to gradual raise and salinity of soil, displacement of freshwater fish, waterweeds, etc.
The biological diversity of the Southern Buh River ecosystem changes each year. This process has already been started and filling the Oleksandrivka Reservoir to the mark of 16 m did not stop it.
Thus, raising the level of the Oleksandrivka Reservoir to 16 m was also accompanied by promises of designers and specialists of nuclear power station of positive effect of the project on water supply of the region. But hopes and expectations were not justified, since the volumes of sanitary releases from the reservoir do not completely satisfy the domestic needs of the region.
A similar situation is expected today. Raising the Oleksandrivka Reservoir level to 20.7 m is intended to ensure, first of all, the production needs of the Oleksandrivka hydroelectric power station and Tashlyk hydroelectric power station; the needs will increase upon construction completion of the last one. Secondly, if the area of the reservoir increases, the area of evaporation and filtration will also increase. Under the conditions of climatic changes (warming and lack of precipitation), it will lead to considerably higher losses of water.
Thus, the assertion that raising the level of the Oleksandrivka Reservoir to 20.7 m will allow one to satisfy the water needs of Mykolaiv region is very doubtful.
According to NIBULON’s specialists, such a project is ineffective for the economy of Mykolaiv region, and its implementation will cause considerable unreasonable damage to the environment.
* Release – periodic or episodic water release from reservoirs to regulate water flow on the watercourse located below or the water level in the reservoir itself.
