About a hundred iron removal stations have been built in the Vitebsk region over the last three years
Improving the quality of drinking water is the number one priority in Belarus's housing and communal services sector. The country's President pays special attention to this issue. As a result, thanks to continuous budget support since the early 2000s, numerous projects outlined in the five-year "Clean Water" programs have been systematically implemented in the republic. The problem itself is gradually disappearing. By 2025, it is planned to commission another 800 water deferrization stations in Belarus, this time within the framework of the subprogram of the same name, which is part of the state program "Comfortable Housing and a Favorable Environment." How are the plans being implemented in the Vitebsk region, where the quality of artesian water is initially the most problematic in terms of its composition?
— We understand this problem and are acting in several directions at once, — emphasizes Alexey Khvalko, General Director of UP "Vitebskoblvodokanal." — Indeed, the Vitebsk region is one of the most unfavorable in terms of artesian water quality. Exceeding iron content standards is almost universal. Plus, ammonia and manganese. Therefore, when compiling work schedules, we first consider those regions where the situation is most acute. And it is precisely there that we simultaneously work on purification stations and network replacement. Just last year, we built about 30 deferrization stations. The most problematic region is Polotsk, where the water is very "heavy." But even there, we are approaching 100% water purification coverage. As, by the way, in the Vitebsk and Verkhnedvinsk districts.
So, by 2025, another 52 deferrization stations will be commissioned in the Vitebsk region (33 of them this year). The total number of such facilities will reach 340, whereas five years ago there were only 188. What is the result of such large-scale work? A sharp reduction in the number of complaints and grievances from the public. As in— the villages of Khaysy and Drekolye, which are 10 kilometers from the regional center.
Fitters Viktor Satyuk and Ruslan Fominov.
— Ordinary villages. Very convenient transport links. Nearby is Lake Borovoye. But, as in all other villages, the number of indigenous residents here has been decreasing year after year. And there were many complaints about the quality of drinking water. Therefore, the news about the inclusion of the villages in the "Clean Water" program was met with joy by everyone. The iron removal station became a serious argument.
— Due to the rapid growth in the number of such facilities in our region, five repair teams have already been created. For example, we service about 40 iron removal stations not only in Vitebsk, but also in Liozno, Gorodok, Shumilino, and Beshenkovichi districts. This does not mean that they often fail. In accordance with the schedule, we carry out planned monitoring once a week. Water samples are taken, and express tests are carried out on-site.
Maxim shows a small device with three zeros – an excellent result: the station works like clockwork!
— The permissible limits at the outlet are up to 0.3 milligrams of iron per liter of water, — clarifies Viktor Morozov. — And before, there could be up to three units here. to bypass...
Repair workers share information: in the village of Rzhavka, a maximum was reportedly recorded – up to 11 milligrams! So, iron removal stations are also about the overall quality of life in the countryside, an undeniable plus for young newcomers.
Of course, the modernization of water supply in large cities, district centers, agro-towns, and settlements is the priority. But small villages in the Vitebsk region are not forgotten either. The know-how is the equipment of mini iron removal stations, which are capable of serving sparsely populated areas. There are already about 120 of them, and another 100 will be installed by the end of the five-year plan. It is noteworthy that the cost of such stations, installed not in separate containers, but in the premises of existing water towers, is approximately 10 to 20 times cheaper. But they can provide quality drinking water to up to 200 people. And if the village is very small, special filters are used. This is also a good and economical solution to the problem.
— Over these years, we have already replaced over 600 kilometers of water supply and sewerage networks, — says Alexey Khvalko. — Last year, we replaced 140 kilometers of water pipelines. The task for the future is to lay at least 150 kilometers of new supply networks annually.
— With the trenchless method of punctures using horizontal drilling, our specialists lay 200-220 meters of pipes of various diameters per day, — explains the technology on site Viktor Morozov. — *Do you see the splicing of polyethylene sections to the required length of the section? With the help of this small unit (we have three of them in the region), pipes will be pulled through a special puncture at a given depth. Trees, ravines, streams are not an obstacle. This significantly speeds up the process. So soon the water will flow to the homes of the residents of the agro-town along new clean routes.*
Chemical engineer Inna Yanchilenko demonstrates two flasks: one contains water directly from the tap, and the second contains water that was at the outlet from the depths, before treatment at the water treatment plant. The difference is obvious. The transparent and cloudy-yellow liquids clearly differ in appearance even without any detailed studies.
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— Residents often call us, they are interested in the quality, they ask: is it possible to drink tap water? — Viktor Morozov sums up. — Our answer is: if there is an iron removal station, then yes, it is possible. Everything is under control. Thanks to the "Clean Water" program, the water from the Dvina is indeed clean and healthy. Which, by the way, you have convinced yourself of today.
"SB"
For Villages, Large and Small
Let's state the obvious right away: building only deferrization stations is not a panacea. It is not for nothing that Alexander Lukashenko has repeatedly voiced the requirement for a balanced and comprehensive approach. There is no point in building stations if the water continues to be supplied to consumers through old and rusty pipes.— We understand this problem and are acting in several directions at once, — emphasizes Alexey Khvalko, General Director of UP "Vitebskoblvodokanal." — Indeed, the Vitebsk region is one of the most unfavorable in terms of artesian water quality. Exceeding iron content standards is almost universal. Plus, ammonia and manganese. Therefore, when compiling work schedules, we first consider those regions where the situation is most acute. And it is precisely there that we simultaneously work on purification stations and network replacement. Just last year, we built about 30 deferrization stations. The most problematic region is Polotsk, where the water is very "heavy." But even there, we are approaching 100% water purification coverage. As, by the way, in the Vitebsk and Verkhnedvinsk districts.
So, by 2025, another 52 deferrization stations will be commissioned in the Vitebsk region (33 of them this year). The total number of such facilities will reach 340, whereas five years ago there were only 188. What is the result of such large-scale work? A sharp reduction in the number of complaints and grievances from the public. As in— the villages of Khaysy and Drekolye, which are 10 kilometers from the regional center.
Fitters Viktor Satyuk and Ruslan Fominov.More New Buildings
In the Mazolovo rural Council, which includes the aforementioned settlements, they say:— Ordinary villages. Very convenient transport links. Nearby is Lake Borovoye. But, as in all other villages, the number of indigenous residents here has been decreasing year after year. And there were many complaints about the quality of drinking water. Therefore, the news about the inclusion of the villages in the "Clean Water" program was met with joy by everyone. The iron removal station became a serious argument.
The result is that in the last five years, the number of residents in Drekolye, for example, has increased by a third. Plots from the auction are now actively bought by townspeople, and new settlers are building on the sites of old huts. Statistics show an increase of 25 people!Together with Viktor Morozov, the deputy director of the Vitebskvodokanal branch, we are going to the site. On the outskirts of the village, there is a beautiful blue container-wagon. We are lucky: today they are carrying out preventive maintenance here. Maxim Somov, the head of the technical team, explains without interrupting his work:
— Due to the rapid growth in the number of such facilities in our region, five repair teams have already been created. For example, we service about 40 iron removal stations not only in Vitebsk, but also in Liozno, Gorodok, Shumilino, and Beshenkovichi districts. This does not mean that they often fail. In accordance with the schedule, we carry out planned monitoring once a week. Water samples are taken, and express tests are carried out on-site.
Maxim shows a small device with three zeros – an excellent result: the station works like clockwork!
— The permissible limits at the outlet are up to 0.3 milligrams of iron per liter of water, — clarifies Viktor Morozov. — And before, there could be up to three units here. to bypass...
Repair workers share information: in the village of Rzhavka, a maximum was reportedly recorded – up to 11 milligrams! So, iron removal stations are also about the overall quality of life in the countryside, an undeniable plus for young newcomers.
Of course, the modernization of water supply in large cities, district centers, agro-towns, and settlements is the priority. But small villages in the Vitebsk region are not forgotten either. The know-how is the equipment of mini iron removal stations, which are capable of serving sparsely populated areas. There are already about 120 of them, and another 100 will be installed by the end of the five-year plan. It is noteworthy that the cost of such stations, installed not in separate containers, but in the premises of existing water towers, is approximately 10 to 20 times cheaper. But they can provide quality drinking water to up to 200 people. And if the village is very small, special filters are used. This is also a good and economical solution to the problem.
Through the station to the consumer
A large-scale reorganization of UP "Vitebskoblvodo canal" was carried out in 2018. It was then that hundreds of kilometers of water supply networks, previously owned by agricultural enterprises, were transferred to the enterprise's balance sheet. It is better not to mention the technical condition of most of them... The problem turned out to be more than obvious: the iron removal stations already built by that time often worked idly – by the time the water reached the consumer through the old pipes, its quality became far from ideal.— Over these years, we have already replaced over 600 kilometers of water supply and sewerage networks, — says Alexey Khvalko. — Last year, we replaced 140 kilometers of water pipelines. The task for the future is to lay at least 150 kilometers of new supply networks annually.
Where necessary, specialists drill additional wells in advance – sometimes it is more economical and significantly more effective than modernizing old ones. Thus, new artesian water intake facilities were equipped last year in the Lepel villages of Susha and Daliki, the Shumilin village of Neporoty, the Vitebsk village of Podberezye, the Chashnik village of Tyapino..."Vitebskoblvodo canal" emphasizes that without the state program, tasuch enormous work to provide the population with high-quality drinking water would be simply unrealistic. Yes, partly financing is carried out at the expense of the working capital of the parent enterprise, but budget allocations are the lion's share.
And today, if desired, even a small village of 10-20 people can get a new water pipeline. By creating a cooperative, people will only pay for connecting water to their homes - the state takes care of all other expenses.Thanks to modern equipment and the latest technologies, work on modernizing pipelines in the Vitebsk region is progressing at an accelerated pace. And without any excavators, dug-up roads and roadside ditches. Today, you can observe the process in the village of Mazolovo, Vitebsk district.
— With the trenchless method of punctures using horizontal drilling, our specialists lay 200-220 meters of pipes of various diameters per day, — explains the technology on site Viktor Morozov. — *Do you see the splicing of polyethylene sections to the required length of the section? With the help of this small unit (we have three of them in the region), pipes will be pulled through a special puncture at a given depth. Trees, ravines, streams are not an obstacle. This significantly speeds up the process. So soon the water will flow to the homes of the residents of the agro-town along new clean routes.*
How guaranteed is the operation of all systems? Five accredited production and testing laboratories monitor the quality of water in the Vitebsk region.We visited one of them in the regional center. This laboratory serves four water intake facilities in Vitebsk, as well as adjacent areas of the region. Samples are tested strictly according to schedule. As for the large artesian wells of the city, twice a day. And not only for chemical but also for microbiological composition.
Chemical engineer Inna Yanchilenko demonstrates two flasks: one contains water directly from the tap, and the second contains water that was at the outlet from the depths, before treatment at the water treatment plant. The difference is obvious. The transparent and cloudy-yellow liquids clearly differ in appearance even without any detailed studies.
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— Residents often call us, they are interested in the quality, they ask: is it possible to drink tap water? — Viktor Morozov sums up. — Our answer is: if there is an iron removal station, then yes, it is possible. Everything is under control. Thanks to the "Clean Water" program, the water from the Dvina is indeed clean and healthy. Which, by the way, you have convinced yourself of today.
"SB"