Turning into a catastrophe: Expert explains the folly of privatizing water utilities using Europe as an example.

Expert in housing and communal services Oleg Popenko noted that water utilities are critical infrastructure, and in many countries around the world, their privatization is legally prohibited. In Austria and Germany, there are special laws that do not allow water utilities to be transferred into private hands.

The privatization of water utilities could have catastrophic consequences for water supply. The adoption of a law on the privatization of municipal enterprises could lead to the freezing of sewage systems and a complete paralysis of the city within 1-2 days at temperatures of minus 10-15 degrees. Privatization will only worsen the situation of water utilities, which are already in a difficult financial position. The city of Lubny is an example where the privatization of the water utility led to the destruction of infrastructure and significant costs for restoration.

Privatization of water utilities will lead to a sharp increase in tariffs that will become unaffordable for Ukrainians. In addition, private investors will not be interested in small water utilities, which will result in a lack of centralized water supply in many settlements. Control over the sewage system must remain in the hands of the state, as it concerns the safety of urban infrastructure. The privatization of water utilities needs to be reconsidered to avoid losing control over strategically important infrastructure facilities.