Our specialists are conducting technical water pumping at the nominal working pressure, verifying system tightness, flushing pipelines, and progressively venting air. This is critically important for the stable future operation of the water supply system.

Water flow is carried out in stages. During the first stage, water from the Southern Bug River enters the intake chambers of Pumping Station PS‑1 via gravity-fed pipes. Once the chambers are filled, the pumping equipment transports water through pipelines to Pumping Station PS‑2. After reaching the required pressure, filling begins of the next section — from PS‑2 to PS‑3. This is the most challenging segment, where the pipeline crosses gullies, lowlands, rivers, highways, railways, and gas pipelines. Due to significant elevation changes, surplus pressure may develop in the system; therefore, it is crucial to slowly expel the air to prevent system failures.

Three pumping stations have been built on site. In the machinery hall of PS № 1, five pumps are installed with the following specifications:

• Flow rate: 2,370 m³/h

• Head: 103 m

• Electric motor power: 800 kW

Pumping Stations PS № 2 and PS № 3 each house four pumps with the following parameters:

• Flow rate: 2,500 m³/h

• Head: 60 m

• Electric motor power: 560 kW

At present, water pumping is powered by diesel generators. Full-scale operation requires connection to permanent electrical supply. We are currently awaiting decisions on appointing a responsible operator, transferring the facility to their balance sheet, and executing agreements with the power supply company.

To energize the pumping stations, each is equipped with a 35 kV distribution panel and a 35/0.4 kV transformer substation (RP-TP). The total length of installed 35 kV cable is 39.8 km. Additionally, each station has backup power sources — two diesel generators: one of 1,400 kVA capacity at PS № 2 and PS № 3, and one of 1,650 kVA at PS № 1. All cable lines are laid underground along the route. The electrical infrastructure is housed within monolithic reinforced-concrete structures with partial earthing embankments, providing protection against shelling.

The pipeline infrastructure also includes:

• 42 air‑release (Vantuz) chambers to remove air from the network,

• 41 drain (Vypusk) chambers for system water discharge,

• 19 switching chambers to reroute flow between pipes,

• 25 shutdown chambers,

• 6 pressure‑relief chambers,

• 3 metering chambers,

• 31 inspection manholes.

Upon completion, the system will deliver up to 120,000 m³ of water per day to Mykolaiv, plus an additional 50,000 m³/day for irrigation of fields in Nova Odesa and Mykolaiv District.

Pumping and all testing procedures will span several weeks. Instead of the projected 2.5 years, we completed the pipeline in 5 months — operating continuously, 24/7 — to restore clean drinking water to the residents of Mykolaiv as quickly as possible.