Dam safety |


Above: Collapse of the Nova Kakhovka Dam unleashed a devastating flood, leading to devastating extreme humanitarian and ecological consequences


barley, the dam destruction could have huge impacts on global food security as the region is seen as ‘a breadbasket’ for not only Ukraine but the rest of the world. Flooding from the dam breach, which peaked at a depth of 5.6m in Kherson on 8 June, destroyed houses, roads and other crucial infrastructure, displaced more than 20,000 people and created an ongoing humanitarian and ecological crisis. Recent estimates suggest that 32 settlements on the right bank of the Dnipro River and 14 settlements on the temporarily occupied territory remain flooded. Efforts to evacuate people from these inundated areas


Ukrhydroenergo joins IHA


It was only at the end of May 2023 that the IHA announced Ukrhydroenergo was one of the latest generators to join its membership. “We are excited to welcome Ukrhydroenergo into the fold and hope that our


network, which includes operators, developers, manufacturers and consultants, will support them in rebuilding and maintaining their facilities in the UK,” Eddie Rich, CEO of IHA, said at the time. One of 15 state-owned enterprises, Ukrhydroenergo is the largest hydropower generating company in Ukraine, and its portfolio includes ten power plants on the Dnipro and Dnister rivers. IHA said that it has played an essential role in ensuring the reliability of the Ukraine power system over the past year or so and is on the energy frontline. However, Ukrhydroenergo remains profitable and intends to continue with its development and restoration projects. Ihor Syrota, CEO of Ukrhydroenergo, commented: “Each of us in our place today


makes an essential contribution to the recovery and development of energy and security of the country with fruitful work. Yes, we are fulfilling our critical mission in today’s challenging conditions. However, our joint practical work and awareness of its importance are the key to light and warmth in the homes of Ukrainians.”


are ongoing, and authorities are actively working to provide the affected population with drinking water and other essential resources. There have also been impacts on sanitation and sewage systems in addition to health services, with Cholera remaining the largest threat to health within the area. In addition, the receding flood water has scattered landmines far and wide in one of the most “mine contaminated” parts of the world. Although they do generally float on the water surface, there is concern they can become entangled in debris and embedded in sediment. And as the dam played an important role in regulating river flow there will now be a greater risk of flooding and drought, with warnings that unless flood defences are put in place or the dam repaired, some areas may remain unsuitable for residents to return as they are so close to the river. Looking at environmental impacts, many believe that we have just seen the tip of the iceberg. There are fears that future agricultural activity will be reduced for many years to come as the flood water washed away the topsoil on vast areas of farm and arable land, while fertilizers may disrupt aquatic ecosystems as they’ve been washed into the river. The sudden surge of water downstream has had immediate and far-reaching impacts on biodiverse ecosystems, and nearly 160,000 animals and 20,000 birds are thought to be under threat, including the vulnerable Nordmann’s birch mouse and the endangered sand mole rat. In addition, the rapid draining means that vast numbers of fish will be either stranded in shallow, dried-up zones, or swept away to sea, where they will perish in the salt water. Described as perhaps being of greater concern, is


the potential dispersal of toxic compounds. More than 150 tonnes of machine oil from the Kakhovka hydro station have spilled into the Dnieper River, The flood


28 | August 2023 | www.waterpowermagazine.com


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