MIT-Ukraine Water Project
Water and Sanitation
Over several semesters starting in spring 2023, D-lab students, under the guidance of MIT faculty and Ukrainian water and sanitation experts, will be working on researching Ukraine’s need for the redevelopment of water distribution systems and proposing new, efficient and carbon-neutral concepts.
Overview
The MIT‑Ukraine Water Project is a collaborative effort hosted by MIT D‑Lab and is part of the MIT‑Ukraine Program.
Our mission is to design resilient, renewable water systems that not only address the pressing need for safe, accessible water and sanitation in Ukraine but also contribute to a more dignified and humane quality of life for its people.
In light of recent conflicts and ongoing climate challenges, our project focuses on decentralized water and wastewater treatment systems that are resilient to attack, sustainable through renewable energy sources, and managed locally—ensuring community agency and long‐term viability.
Objective
Perform a feasibility study of a proposed water supply, distribution, and water/wastewater treatment system design for specific sites in Ukraine and conduct pilot studies.
Background
We are all familiar with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, both in 2014 and again in 2022, and the Russian government’s seizure of territory in the eastern regions of Ukraine. What might not be well-known is that Ukraine is one of the most climate-impacted countries in Europe. One of the significant impacts of climate change in Ukraine is water scarcity, independent of the Russian war, even while water shortages are also profoundly exacerbated by the war. Climate change-induced water scarcity impacts the water supply and the agricultural sector for which Ukraine is rightly famous, as a country supplying the world with grain and other crops. Therefore, this project is both a Water Project and a Climate Project.
"MIT’s mission is ‘To work with others to bring knowledge to bear on the world’s great challenges for the betterment of humankind.’ The MIT Ukraine Water Program is an outstanding expression of that mission as we work to ensure that everyone in Ukraine has safe and accessible water now and into Ukraine’s future as a sovereign, democratic nation."
- Susan Murcott
"The MIT-Ukraine water project mission, which started at MIT 1.5 years ago, has been extended to include fantastic Ukrainian partners—the Ukrainian Water Association, the Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering in Rivne, and the Mykolaiv Water Hub—as well as key U.S. organizations: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Norwich University, U.S. Water Partnership, and GZA. The extended group of scientists, engineers, lecturers, and students have discussed crucial Ukrainian problems related to the Dnipro River, the water supply of cities and rural areas, energy production, and agriculture, which the Russian invasion has heavily impacted. Several scientific-technical presentations were made to potential financial investors and in public fora. We emphasize collaboration at the MIT-Ukraine water project, working closely with many Ukrainian organizations and U.S. institutions to benefit the Ukrainian population."
- Boris Faybishenko
People
Please email us if you have project ideas or would like to share information about a class you are taking/teaching at MIT with which we could collaborate. These projects can be completed for course credit or through a UROP stipend.
We also welcome inquiries from Ukrainian organizations and institutions about projects that potentially can be completed by MIT students and faculty.
Collaborating Partners
National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE)
Ukraine, 33028, Rivne city, 11 Soborna St., NUWEE
+38 (036) 263-32-09 mail@nuwm.edu.ua
Lead contacts:
Oksana Hakych
o.o.halych@nuwm.edu.ua
Assoc. Prof. of Hydropower, Thermal Power and Hydraulic Machines Department
Volodymyr Korniichuk
Associate Prof. of Hydraulic Engineering and Hydraulics Department
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Earth and Environmental Sciences Area,Energy Geosciences Division
Berkeley, CA 94720
510-486-4852
Lead contacts:
Boris Faybishenko
bafaybishenko@lbl.gov
Ukraine Water Association
Lead contacts:
Dmytro Teslya
teslya.msf@gmail.com
Artem Shyra
artem.shyra@nerex.ua