It’s okay to drink water in Chernivtsi - but only after boiling or filtering it
The best tap water is in the suburbs of the city because it comes from underground water streams.
By Liudmyla OSADCHUK
Chernivtsi residents complain about the quality of tap water quite often. And it is because of these complaints that we decided to find out the truth about the tap water running in our homes. We planned to do chemical analysis of water, taking into consideration such characteristics as rigidity, permanganate oxidation (i.e. organic or nonorganic substances contamination), iron, lead, and residual chlorine. The Sanitation and Epidemiological Department and Medico Ecological Issues Research Institute evaluate water differently.
The Sanitary Ecological Services and Ecological Institute have different opinions about the Water quality.
Water comes to Chernivtsi from the river Dnister and ground wells at the water intakes Rohizna, Bila, Mahala. The most populated districts of the city (sleeping districts) on Heroi Stalinhrada Avenue, Nezalezhnist Avenue, Pivdenno-Kiltseva Street and “Hraviton” region – all get their drinking water from the Dnister. At first, water is taken from the river near the village Mytkiv, in Zastavniv district; then it is taken by the first pump tower of the water supply system “Dnister-Chernivtsi” to the purification facilities in the village Vikno, Zastaniv district. Here, the water goes through purification and the first stage of chlorination. Later, the second pump tower brings the water to the pump station in Shurbanets village for the second stage of chlorination. Then, the water goes to the reservoir on Popov Street in Chernivtsi, which is where the final stage of chlorination takes place. All together, it takes 6 hours for the water to travel the distance of 45 kilometers from the Dnister to Chernivtsi.
The first water sample we took for analysis came from the water supply system “Dnister-Chernivtsi” and the second was from in Chernivtsi, the purified water reservoir. Both places are “closed” facilities, and thus, to visit those one needs special permission from the water utilities company. After having explained why we wanted to visit the places, we received the required authorization. In the water utilities company, we were warned, however, that water tests are done only by Sanitation and Epidemiological Department representatives. We did not object to that but, just in case, we decided to give water samples to two laboratories – one to the municipal Sanitation and Epidemiological Department and the other to the Medico Ecological Issues Research Institute.
The former institution concluded that both samples, from the water supply system in Vikno village and from the purified water reservoir on Popov Street in Chernivtsi, were in accordance with all the norms. The Medico Ecological Issues Institute, however, had different results. They reported that “The water taken in the two places does not correspond to State Sanitary Standard №383 “Drinking water. Hygienic regulations to the quality of municipal central drinking water supply” by its permanganate oxidation parameters.”
The permanganate oxidation norm is less than 4.0 mg О2/dm3. The results of the test provided the following figures of oxidation: the water supply system in Vikno village – 5.76 mg О2/dm3 and the purified water reservoir – a bit less than 5.44 mg О2/dm3.
Permanganate oxidation shows that there are some organic or nonorganic readily-oxidizable elements, - explained Leonid VLASYK, Medico Ecological Issues Institute Director. – This tells us that some biological material, for example, a piece of a decayed plant, or some rust got into the water. Most likely, this is because of bad quality pipes.
Neither of the two laboratories found any deviations in terms of the rigidity, iron, lead, and residual chlorine norms.
Click here to see the tabel for the test Results of Drinking Water From Different Parts of Chernivtsi
There is something “extra” in the pipes on the street
In order to find out what quality tap water we get, we took test samples from apartments in four different parts of the city – Nezalezhnist Avenue, Ruska Street, Holovna Street, and Biloruska Street. Sanitation and Epidemiological Department workers were present when samples were taken. The samples were again sent to two laboratories – at the Sanitation and Epidemiological Department and at the Medico Ecological Issues Institute.
Results of the Sanitation and Epidemiological Department investigation stated that the characteristics of all the water samples from different parts of the city were within the norms.
The findings of the Medico Ecological Issues Institute's investigation once again differed. “Municipal water taken from the apartments at Nezalehnist Avenue and Holovna Street do not correspond to the existing norms of the State Sanitary Standard №383 “Drinking water…” taking into account its permanganate oxidation characteristics. Samples of municipal water from Ruska and Biloruska Streets match the requirements of State Sanitary Standard №383.”
"According to the test results, the quality of water in different parts of the city is the same," claims Leonid Vlasyk. "Water rigidity is high but within the upper boundary (which is 7 - 10 mg.Eq/dm3). This shows that the water contains calcium and magnesium salts. Moreover, the higher the rigidity, the tastier the water is. However, there is more sediment in such water. People need to use more soap when doing laundry. Potatoes also become harder to boil. The biggest problem with such water is that it has a harmful impact on household appliances. Washing machines and boilers get more sediment then and, hence, wear out faster.
If rigidity is higher than 10 mg.Eq/dm3, then it is bad for people, especially for those with kidney deficiencies.
Water is best when the rigidity is 3 mg.Eq/dm3. However, when the figures are lower than 2 mg.Eq/dm3, then the human body lacks calcium and magnesium.
The excessive level of permanganate oxidation, detected in the water taken at the Nezalezhnist Avenue and Holovna Street, according to Leonid Vlasyk, tells that in the water pipes there are either microbes, or decayed parts of plants, or iron.
Municipal Water Services workers were surprised to hear the rigidity figures. According to the state standards, the rigidity level can reach up to 7 mg.Eq/dm3. From the river Dnister, we get water with a rigidity about 4 mg.Eq/dm3," says the head of the municipal water quality laboratory at the State Sanitary Standard “Chernivtsivodokanal” Halyna KRYVCHANSKA. "By the time the water gets to the city, the number can go up to 4-5 mg.Eq/dm3. Water from the Dnister can gain rigidity as it proceeds, however the figures in the city will never go over the limit."
We inquired at the Municipal Water Services about who has better quality water –citizens who get it from ground, surface waters or mixed.
"Ground water delivered through pump stations “Rohizna”, “Bila” and “Mahala” is better, as it does not go through processing," states Halyna Kryvchanska. "For instance, at the purifying stations of water system “Dnister-Chernivtsi,” they add coagulant and flocculating agents to clear the water."
Water input points “Mahala”, “Rohizna” and “Bila” have pools for artificial ground water replenishment that secures the necessary water level. Thus, water taken from there is considered to be naturally purified.
HOW WATER GETS TO APARTMENTS
Scheme done by Ihor PAVCHAK
1.City center
2.Fastivska Street, Tykhoretska Street, Boyanivska Street, Mahalianska Street, Kalichanka Street
3.Heroi Stalinhrada Avenue, Nezalezhnist Avenue, Pivdenno-Kiltseva Street and “Hraviton” region
4.Khotynska Street, Festyvalna Street, Ya. Halana Street, M. Toreza Street, Zavodska Street
5.Korsunska Street, Bridska Street, Berezhanska Street, up to Stryiska Street
Transparent colors (green, purple, blue and pink) denote the source where water comes from
Purple label – water pumping station “Bila”
Blue label – water pumping station “Mahala”
Green label – water pumping station “Rohizna”
Blue label – water supply system “Dnister-Chernivtsi” (village Vikno)
Municipal Water Services are certain of their good quality water
At the Municipal Water Services, they say that the quality of water in Chernivtsi is good and citizens have no reason to complain about it.
"Every day, we monitor the quality of drinking water by taking samples from 20 control points. We test water for its chemical and bacteriological characteristics," says the head of the municipal water quality laboratory Halyna KRYVCHANSKA. "This year we have not had any deviations from the norms. Some deviations can occur naturally in water at the places of intake from the rivers Dnister and Prut, especially during the flood period. However, during technological water processing, these defects are eliminated. Another reason for deviations could be accidents, or pipe corrosion, as the water supply network is 60%, and in some places even 80% worn out.
We were assured at the laboratory that citizens can drink tap water; they do not have to boil it, however it is still better to remove the silt from it.
"Water needs to be cleaned of silt," advises Halyna Vasylivna Kryvchanska. "Water is chlorinated but when the silt is removed, residual chlorine evaporates and that makes water much more suitable for consumption. We also advice to let the water run for 10-15 minutes, in order not to drink stagnant water in case it was turned off for construction purposes.
USEFUL TO KNOW
Municipal water tests are already included in the monthly bill
Naturally, our investigation does not reveal the whole situation in the city as there can be different situations on other streets. As it turns out, citizens can actually go to the water system laboratory with their complaints; the phone number is 4 78 22.
"If their water smells, tastes, or looks bad, people should call us," says the head of the municipal water quality laboratory at the State Sanitary Standard “Chernivtsivodokanal” Halyna KRYVCHANSKA. "We will come then, and take the water samples for analysis to really see if it is of a poor quality. We do this for free, as municipal water tests are already included in their monthly bill. Only our staff members themselves are allowed to take the water samples for investigation; and in the host’s presence they sign a statement/document. Therefore, if a person himself/herself brings us water samples, we will not take them, since we cannot be sure where that water comes from. If some deviations are detected, then our crew will clean the water system for free.
IMPORTANT: What impact can norms deviations have on us
Water RIGIDITY in different parts of Chernivtsi basically corresponds to the existing norms (up to 7 mg.Eq/dm3) but specialists say that the best physiological level is 3.0 – 3.5 mg.Eq/dm3. This has to do with the fact that people consume a sufficient amount of calcium and magnesium in food products (cheese, milk) and constant use of water with high rigidity can result in salt accumulation/buildup in the body, and can lead to joint diseases, the buildup of kidney stones, gall-bladder and urinary bladder complications. To lower rigidity, water needs to be boiled first and then still desilted before consuming. In household appliance guidelines, it is mentioned that for them to work long, i.e. for washing machines, water rigidity should not exceed 1.5 – 2.0 mg.Eq/dm3; and moreover the higher the temperature of the water, the more calcium is released, hence the faster the device wears out.
Permanganate oxidation (norm is 4.0 mgО2/ dm3) – means there are organic and nonorganic substances in the water. If the figure is over the limit and a person consumes the water over a long period of time, it has a bad influence on the kidneys, liver, central nervous and immune systems. It is not recommended to drink tap water as it is; filters can help a little.
IRON. High level of iron affect the skin, and can be the cause of allergic reactions; this also accumulates sediment in the water pipes and water system, and leaves yellow stains on white laundry.
CHLORINE. If the amount of this substance is above the norms, then the risk of growing tumors is higher. Moreover, chlorine composition can affect pregnancy and fetus development. When chlorine gets into the body, it forces out iodine.
DISINFECTION
Hypochlorite sodium instead of chlorine
Water that gets from the Dnister to Chernivtsi is chlorinated to kill viruses and bacteria.
"In the water system, water is treated to kill various microbes; and chlorination is one of the stages," says Nataliya SURDZHIY, therapeutist at municipal clinic #2. "Chlorine irritates the stomach and intestine's mucous membrane. It is a powerful poison that kills not only pathogenous microflora but also useful ones, too. Of course, drinking water contains a little chlorine, however we drink about 2 liters of it daily. To get rid of chlorine, tap water should be either boiled or desilted uncovered for 3 hours before consumption. Gaseous/gasiform chlorine evaporates, but salts become sediment and remain in the water."
"Chlorination is still the main method of water disinfection in Ukraine and most countries in the world," says Halyna Kryvchanska. "Chlorine's lasting effect makes water in the supply system safe at any time. However, gradually we are trying to switch to other methods of disinfection rather than chlorine. For example, at the “Rohizna” water intake and clear water reservoir on Popov Street we have already started using hypochlorite sodium. It is the oxidizing agent that that kills a broad range of bacteria. Concentrated hypochlorite sodium is taken by table salt hydrolysis. Like chlorine hypochlorite sodium, when dissolved in water, forms chloric acid and hypochlorite have oxidizing and disinfection power. It also has a long-lasting effect. When using hypochlorite sodium, chlorine deposits are still formed but are 50% fewer than those of using chlorine; water consequently does not smell like chlorine. Additionally, water has less corrosion power, which helps eliminate breaks in steel pipe. In the future, we plan to switch to hypochlorite sodium at other water intakes (“Mahala” and “Bila”) and also in the “Dnister-Chernivtsi” water supply system."
EXPERT OPINION
Water will not taste better
Chemists say that at present we do not really have an option of using an alternative to chlorination for disinfection. They also do not agree that when using hypochlorite sodium, water quality is better.
"Our tap water does not taste good. For instance, I only drink tap water after it has gone through a filter," says Vasyl BILOHOLOVKA, Alternate Chemistry Assistant Chair. "However, we do not have a choice, since without chlorination we would suffer from various bacteria; moreover chlorination doses are really small. At the same time, uncombined chlorine is very active; it chlorinates organic substances and there are many of those in water. That, in turn, forms chlorine deposits. Chlorine, if it combines with organic substance, does not evaporate from water. Thus, desilting is not helpful, chlorine remains in the water anyway. As for hypochlorite sodium, it functions in the same way as chlorine, the only difference is that the former is safer to keep.
This investigation was supported by the Danish Network for Investigative Journalism in East and Southeastern Europe (SCOOP).
Click here to read the original article.
