WORLD WATER DAY 2025: DENMARK's SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE'S WATER SECTOR 

2.2 billion people worldwide still lack access to safe water. World Water Day highlights the urgent need to secure clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.

Ambassador Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, MayorSienkevych, and the management of MykolaivVodokanal at the water treatmentstation in Mykolaiv, 2023

In Ukraine more than 740 water management facilities have been damaged or destroyed due the war since 2022 leaving residents without access to clean drinking water and flooding of homes according to Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.

The Embassy’s Counsellor on Water and Environment Kamilla Kristensen Rai  at Kyiv’s Water Information Centre, which was established in 2003 with the support of the Ministry of Environment of Denmark.

This year’s theme, Glacier Preservation and Health, underscores the role of glaciers in regulating global water cycles. Their rapid melting threatens water security and livelihoods, calling for urgent action to protect water resources, enhance climate resilience, and ensure access to safe water.

Danish Environmental Protection Agency: Carsten Møberg Larsen, Deputy Director, International Cooperation and Rasmus Schjødt Kold, Technical Expert Waste Water Treatment at Kyiv’s Water Information Centre, which was established in 2003 with the support of the Ministry of Environment of Denmark.

Denmark remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s water sector both on the national and local level, through the Mykolaiv-Denmark Partnership, Inter-Ministerial Cooperation (Strategic Sector Cooperation) on Water and Environment, and the Municipal Twinning Programme, Trade Council and Financial Institutions —helping to rebuild and modernize Ukraine’s water sector.

The sewerage system in Mykolaiv was severely damaged in the months following the full-scale invasion, as water supply in the city was disrupted and then re-launched with challenges. The new technology and training provided by Danish company Per Aarsleff with financial support from the World Bank, allows for faster, more reliable repairs without the need to dig up roads. 
Denmark’s Key Contributions to Ukraine’s Water Sector, to mention just a few:
 
EU Harmonisation and Strengthening Water Governance
• Denmark assists Ukraine in aligning water sector regulations with EU directives and promotes sustainable water management.
• Danish financial institutions such as IFU and EIFO support long-term water sector investments for Ukraine’s recovery.
• Danish and Ukrainian Municipalities and vodokanals work together on water sector solutions
• Danish Water Forum and Association of Vodokanals cooperate on on sustainable water infrastructure.
Reverse osmosis systems with water pumps by Grundfos funded by Denmark and installed with the help of the Danish Red Cross, ensured access to clean water for Mykolaiv residents in 2022
Emergency Water Supply in Mykolaiv:

• Denmark funded reverse osmosis systems with Grundfos pumps, providing clean drinking water after Mykolaiv’s water supply was disrupted.

• The Danish Refugee Council supported installation efforts, together with MykolaivTeploEnergo.

Infrastructure Rehabilitation:

• Mykolaiv’s sewerage system was severely damaged after the full-scale invasion.

• With Danish company PER AARSLEFF and World Bank support, modern repair technology was introduced, allowing fast, reliable fixes without road excavation.

Reverse osmosis systems with water pumps by Grundfos funded by Denmark and installed with the help of the Danish Red Cross, ensured access to clean water for Mykolaiv residents in 2022
 Local Community Support

• In cooperation with Mission10forty and Denmark’s financial support, the International Organization for Migration IOM Ukraine installed five water points, now serving 4,000+ people in Mykolaiv region.

Engineers Without Borders are testing water supply in Mykolaiv and Mykolaiv region with Danish Red Cross in Ukraine 
Diplomatic and Technical Engagement

• Ambassador Ole Egberg Mikkelsen visited Mykolaiv’s water treatment station many times. The Danish engineers from Ingeniører Uden Grænser - IUG / Engineers Without Borders Denmark, together with the Danish embassy team, have travelled all across the Mykolaiv region to facilitate the work on clean water supply.

 

Information on Water Sector Cooperation  between Denmark and Ukraine may be found here. 

 

Delegation from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency visited Kyiv in February 2025 to advance the Inter-Governmental Cooperation (Strategic Sector Cooperation) on Water and Environment between Denmark and Ukraine. During the visit, the delegation engaged in productive discussions on aligning water sector regulations with EU directives with teams from Government of Ukraine (Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Ministry for Communities and Territories Development and "Ukrvodokanalecologiya" Association.
Another example of cooperation: the IX Lviv Eco Forum, held on October 1-2, 2024, under the theme "Together for Sustainability," highlighted strong Danish involvement in promoting sustainable water solutions. The forum, organized by "Ukrvodokanalecologiya" Association, Lviv Vodokanal, and UNICEF, brought together over 100 participants, including Ukrainian government officials, municipalities, international partners, and research institutions. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between "Ukrvodokanalecologiya" Association and the Danish Water Forum, paving the way for enhanced cooperation between Denmark and Ukraine parties on sustainable water infrastructure.
Dmytro Novytskyi, President of the Association "Ukrvodokanalecologia" and Michael Ramlau Hansen representing Danish Water Forum