Circular Economy and Quality of Life · Preparatory project
LIFE-U-SPRING
LIFE Ukrainian Urban Water Management Capability Springboard
About the project
Ukraine's water supply and wastewater sector faces ageing, energy-intensive infrastructure, weak regulation, limited funding, poor management and war damage: most facilities date from the late 1970s and early 1980s, about 95% of their sludge is untreated and many municipal tariffs do not cover actual costs. The project identifies, pilots and mainstreams technical, financial and managerial solutions that align the sector with EU water directives, with pilots in the Western Bug and San river basins. Planned results include an online catalogue of over 100 proven solutions, a baseline report, four study visits, three pilot solutions in Lviv region, two solar installations at wastewater treatment facilities cutting about 112 t CO₂ a year, and an online training programme with a professional network of 200 experts. A roadmap for a water supply and wastewater alliance aims to reach 150 local communities.
proven solutions in the online catalogue
solar installations at wastewater treatment facilities (~112 t CO₂/yr)
experts in the professional network
communities targeted by the alliance roadmap
Ukrainian participation
The project is coordinated by the Lviv-based Public Union Centre for Regional Development and focuses on Ukraine, with nine Ukrainian organisations, two of them associated partners, alongside partners from Finland and Poland. According to the coordinator, the pilots cover the Zolochiv and Horodok wastewater treatment facilities, including solar panels, urban water management plans and feasibility studies, and study visits take participants to treatment plants in Poland and Finland.
| Organisation | Role | EU contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Public Union Centre for Regional Development | Coordinator | EU contribution: €191,998 |
| Horodok City Council | Beneficiary | EU contribution: €134,000 |
| Zolochiv City Council | Beneficiary | EU contribution: €134,000 |
| Ukrainian Association of Water Supply and Sewerage Enterprises Ukrvodokanalekologiya | Beneficiary | EU contribution: €111,852 |
| Regional Development Agency of Lviv Region | Beneficiary | EU contribution: €96,674 |
| National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE) | Beneficiary | EU contribution: €78,244 |
| NGO Ecoclub | Beneficiary | EU contribution: €72,947 |
| Basin Administration of Water Resources of the Western Bug and San Rivers | Associated partner | EU contribution: €0 |
| All-Ukrainian Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities | Associated partner | EU contribution: €0 |
Consortium
Coordinator
Public Union Centre for Regional Development
Ukraine
Finland
- Finnish Water Forum (Suomen Vesifoorumi ry)
Poland
- Gmina i Miasto Nisko
Links
Sources and verification
Data verified on 19 Oct 2026 against official sources: