Pollution of the Saim and Desna Rivers: Ministry of Ecology identifies measures to eliminate consequences.

The State Commission on Technogenic and Environmental Safety and Emergency Situations has prepared a plan to clean up the Saim River in the Sumy and Chernihiv regions and the Desna River in the Chernihiv and Kyiv regions. This was reported by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.

It is noted that by the decision of the commission, executive authorities and local governments were given a number of instructions to localize and eliminate pollution in the Saim and Desna rivers.

In particular, the State Ecological Inspection, the State Water Agency, the Chernihiv and Kyiv Regional Military Administrations, and the Ministry of Ecology will implement measures to absorb pollutants in the Desna River by introducing activated sludge into surface waters and other measures. In addition, the State Water Agency will develop options for transferring additional volumes of clean water to dilute the concentration of pollutants in the Desna River.

In turn, the State Fish Agency, with local governments and the participation of the State Emergency Service, the State Ecological Inspection, and the State Food Safety Service, will continue collecting and burying dead fish resources (in cases of fish mortality).

«To prevent secondary pollution of the Desna River, it is also instructed to establish barrier lines – nets for catching dead fish along the river's flow. After the implementation of all measures to localize and eliminate pollution, the Ministry of Ecology will provide information on the dynamics of water quality changes in the Desna River», – summarized the Ministry.

The ministry emphasized that local authorities should ensure proper water treatment considering the situation to ensure uninterrupted centralized water supply to the city of Kyiv.

The Ministry of Ecology also emphasized that catching fish from the Desna and Saim rivers and selling it is prohibited. The State Food Safety Service has introduced enhanced control measures for the sale of fish in these regions. The population is being informed about the potential danger of using water from the Saim River for watering livestock and gardens.

It is noted that crisis monitoring of water quality is currently being conducted on the Saim and Desna rivers — the State Ecological Inspection together with the State Water Agency take samples daily. More than 50 water samples have already been taken and relevant laboratory tests have been carried out.

No exceedances of highly toxic components have been detected. However, organic pollution is being recorded.

As reported, since August 14, mass fish mortality and water pollution have been recorded on the banks of the Saim River in the Sumy and Chernihiv regions. Residents of the surrounding areas are prohibited from swimming in the river, and the State Ecological Inspection and the State Fish Agency suggest that dirty water entered the Saim from the Kursk region.