RESTORING WATER SUPPLY TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY RESILIENCE
Across eastern Ukraine, damage to water supply and wastewater infrastructure continues to limit access to safe water and essential sanitation services. At the same time, municipal utilities operate under sustained pressure, requiring technical support, modern infrastructure management solutions, and strengthened institutional capacity.
The Aqua Viva project combines infrastructure recovery, targeted community support, and capacity development for water utilities. Beyond restoring critical services, the project promotes more resilient and modern approaches to water governance that can be scaled and replicated across other war-affected communities in Ukraine.
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Project NameAQUA VIVA – Emergency Water Supply and System Support for Conflict Affected Communities
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Project Phase2025 to 2027
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FundingItalian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS)
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Thematic focusWASH & Water Governance
Impact in Numbers
1
national standard for digital water infrastructure management developed and introduced
16
WASH systems restored and modernized
115 000
people regained access to safe water
300
water utility specialists trained in water systems management
3 500
people received targeted hygiene support
Supporting communities affected by the war
The project helps maintain adequate hygiene and sanitation conditions in conflict-affected communities in Kharkiv oblast through targeted assistance mechanisms implemented by CF Pobic Ukraine.
Support reaches communities affected by hostilities, collective accommodation centres, and transit facilities, helping sustain safe living conditions and the continuity of essential services during the recovery process.
Restoring water infrastructure
Helvetas has been supporting water infrastructure recovery in Ukraine since 2023. Together with its partners, the organization has contributed to the restoration of more than 60 water infrastructure facilities in war-affected communities.
Building on this experience, Aqua Viva combines lessons learned, verified community needs, and technical assessments to guide investments in the recovery and modernization of water supply and wastewater systems in Kharkiv oblast.
Activities include damage assessments, prioritization of infrastructure needs, equipment procurement, and rehabilitation works implemented in cooperation with local authorities and municipal water utilities.
These investments help improve service reliability, strengthen infrastructure resilience, and restore access to safe drinking water. In addition, they create enabling conditions for local economic activity and long-term community recovery.
Strengthening utility capacity and sector standards
A dedicated component of the project focuses on strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of municipal water utilities.
Utility professionals receive technical expertise and practical knowledge on modern water systems management, water quality monitoring, energy efficiency, and emergency response planning.
At the same time, the project supports the development of a national standard for technical inventory and digital management of water supply and wastewater infrastructure. The standard will contribute to harmonized approaches for collecting, digitizing, and managing technical infrastructure data across Ukraine's water sector.
By linking local infrastructure investments with sector-wide reforms, Aqua Viva contributes to long-term modernization and more sustainable management of water infrastructure in Ukraine.
International partnership for water sector recovery
Aqua Viva brings together international expertise, Helvetas’ practical experience in infrastructure recovery, and close cooperation with local authorities to advance more resilient and sustainable approaches to water infrastructure management in Ukraine.
The project demonstrates how local recovery efforts can generate scalable models and institutional solutions that support the long-term transformation of Ukraine’s water sector.
