WUNU joins the Ukrainian-American Water Monitoring Initiative in Ukraine
Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, U.S. scientists and the Save Our Allies coalition have launched an initiative to provide technology to monitor water and test its safety.
During the first stage, mobile laboratories were deployed in frontline and affected regions. The Coalition, together with its Ukrainian counterparts, donated equipment, technical devices, and drinking water.
The second stage involved the establishment of a training network for water safety monitoring in most regions of Ukraine. Drinking water has always been an issue in Ukraine, but the war has exacerbated the problem. At the same time, in 2023, regulatory requirements for the water sector were tightened as to meet the requirements of European integration, including the responsibilities of local communities.
On December 15, 2023, as a result of negotiations with representatives of Greenwater Marine Sciences Offshore, Inc. (GMSO) and the Save Our Allies Coalition, Kenneth Underwood and Mark Miller, West Ukrainian National University has been provided with unique equipment for conducting field research and training on water safety.
Today, on 20 December 2023, the Rector and the teaching staff of the Department of Ecology and Health examined the equipment, got acquainted with the laboratory capabilities of the Education and Research Institute of Innovation, Nature Management and Infrastructure, and focused on the application of portable kits in research and education.
Rector of WUNU Oksana Desyatnyuk said: "In the context of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, the environment of our country is suffering great damage. We need to implement modern and effective training methods to identify environmental pollution. We are grateful to our colleagues from the United States for their support and assistance. I am convinced that the use of advanced technologies will strengthen our defence capabilities and contribute to the post-war modernisation of Ukraine."
DelAgua portable water testing kits are designed to test the critical parameters specified in the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for drinking water quality.
The field kit allows you to test water for microbiological quality, determine turbidity, free and total chlorine, pH and temperature. The ability to use this set is significantly enhanced by power supply from a separate external battery.
At the joint initiative of the Institute of Innovation, Nature Management and Infrastructure of WUNU and the Center for Advanced Training of Water Management Workers of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, the portable laboratory will be used to monitor water resources of communities in Ternopil Oblast.
More photos are here: https://fex.net/uk/s/9ozo0n1