After active involvement of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) and numerous appeals from farmers and the community, water supply to Lake Katlabukh in southern Odesa region has finally begun.

The SZS pumping station, which is under the control of the State Fisheries Agency, has resumed operations. This step will allow the lake, which supplies water to dozens of settlements and agricultural enterprises in southern Odesa region, to be gradually filled.

On June 17, the Water Users Organization “Voda-Zhyttia” appealed to the authorities to immediately intervene in the situation, as the water level in the lake had fallen to 57% and was rapidly approaching the dead volume mark. At the same time, 15,000 residents of Izmail district, who have no alternative sources of water supply, as well as more than 8,500 hectares of crops, remained at risk.

The UAС got involved in the work from the very first days of the crisis. Together with farmers, communities, and relevant experts, we managed to get a decision made to start up the pumping station.

We're grateful to the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, the Odesa Regional State Administration, and the State Agency for Fisheries for their quick response to our request.