On Monday, 7 August, a Latvian-made water treatment system began its journey from Riga to Kherson, procured by TEV association with a donation by Riga City Council. It will help people affected by the floods that followed the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP remove chemicals from the water they use for household needs.
The invaders blew up the Kakhovka Dam on 6 June, which resulted in chemically contaminated water flooding vast areas along the Dnieper river, including the city of Kherson. On 14 June, in order to provide flood relief to Kherson’s citizens, Riga City Council decided to donate 100,000 euros to TEV association, for purchasing water treatment equipment and delivering it to the flooded city. The first shipment with various gear went to Kherson from Riga as early as 16 June.
‘Today is the 530th day since Russian soldiers began their destructive full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It is summer, and inflation is hitting us, too, but we mustn’t get distracted before Ukraine wins this war. This is why I am particularly happy to see Riga City Council being in agreement and giving significant funds to help people in Kherson Oblast deal with another crime against humanity committed by Russia, the destruction of Kakhovka HPP. Riga will stand with Kherson and Ukraine until it wins this war,’ Linda Ozola, deputy chair of Riga City Council, emphasised.
Co-founder of TEV association Miks Duburs reported: ‘As we sent the first cargo after the Kakhovka Dam was blown up, we went there to look at the actual situation. Together with the local government of Kherson, we found that there was an acute need for a mobile water treatment unit that could be moved to places in critical need of clean water. Currently, the unit provides clean drinking water to Korabelnyi District of Kherson where the situation is particularly dire.
Everyone is also eagerly expects the liberation of the left bank. The drinking water situation there is known to be not just critical, but horrifying. The fact that we can move the unit means that Kherson and Kherson Oblast can quickly solve problems where solutions are needed the most. People from our association are planning to accompany the delivery to Kherson, to also bring various other goods as assistance.’
The water treatment system that began its journey to Kherson on 7 August was custom-made in Riga by SIA WATEX, using its own design. The system has a diesel generator that supplies it with the electricity it needs to operate. It can treat 3000 litres of water per hour; it can deliver 2000 litres of water every hour, and it can store up to 5000 litres of water. With proper use, it can operate for 10 years. The manufacture of the water treatment unit cost 60,000 euros.
The system is installed inside a shipping container, making it possible to transport it via sea and land transport. Just like the buses SIA ‘Rīgas satiksme’ donated to Kyiv this and last year, the container is embellished with a drawing by Beatrise Birina that graffiti artist Dainis Rudens painted on the wall of KATE furniture store in Čiekurkalns in February 2022.
The consequences of the explosion organised by the invaders in Kakhovka will echo for a long time. The water that flooded large areas is contaminated with toxic substances that can survive for long periods in bodies of water and in topsoil. Without special treatment, this water cannot be used for drinking or household needs. This is why in September, TEV association plans to send another water treatment system to Kherson, urging everyone who wishes to help with this plan to donate at ziedot.lv.
Information was prepared by: Edīte Matuseviča, Project Coordinator at External Communication Division of Riga City Council Communication Department, e-mail: edite.matusevica@riga.lv