OCTOBER 31, 2025

Project Start: Ukraine – Comprehensive Technical Assessment and Development of an Advanced WASH Service Delivery Model Incorporating GIS, Hydraulic Modelling, and Asset Management Systems in Selected Ukrainian Towns

Assignment location: Konotop in Sumy Oblast, Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine
Client: UNICEF Kyiv Office
Origin of funding: UNICEF

Picture Source: iStock_Artem

HYDROPHIL is pleased to announce the launch of the UNICEF-funded project in the Ukrainian Towns of Konotop in Sumy Oblast and Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast, in response to the critical challenges facing Ukraine’s WASH systems, including ageing infrastructure, limited water access, and a lack of centralised wastewater services for millions of people.

The official kick-off meeting took place online on 31 October 2025, marking the launch of a pilot project in Lozova (Kharkivska Oblast) and Konotop (Sumy Oblast), towns facing severe WASH infrastructure deficits. The initiative aimed to develop a scalable service delivery model using GIS, hydraulic modelling, and asset management systems to improve reliability, efficiency, and EU compliance.

Picture Source: iStock_V.Zapletin

The objective of the project is to design, pilot, and institutionalise a replicable, EU-aligned digital WASH Service Delivery Model to improve the operational performance, reliability, and sustainability of water and sanitation services in conflict-affected municipalities of Ukraine.

The project aims to:

  • Assess and map existing WASH infrastructure and services in Lozova and Konotop, including geospatial mapping of assets, service coverage, infrastructure condition, and operational gaps.
  • Develop and implement GIS-based utility management systems for real-time infrastructure visualisation and data-driven planning.
  • Apply hydraulic modelling to optimise water distribution and wastewater network performance.
  • Institutionalise an EU-standard Integrated Asset Management System (IAMS) to support long-term utility efficiency and sustainability.
  • Build technical capacity of local water utilities (Vodokanals) through training in GIS, hydraulic modelling, and asset management.
  • Strengthen monitoring and community engagement through mobile-based tracking and feedback systems.
  • Document and disseminate a scalable WASH service delivery model for replication in other conflict-affected and resource-constrained areas.

Picture source: HYDROPHIL/N. Khan

“This project represents far more than a technical intervention. It is a decisive step toward rebuilding resilient, efficient, and future-proof WASH systems in communities severely affected by conflict. By integrating GIS, hydraulic modelling, and modern asset management practices, we are creating a scalable model that strengthens local utilities today and equips them for long-term sustainability. Our goal is to set a new benchmark for service reliability and operational excellence in Ukraine and beyond.”

— Numan Khan, Project Manager, HYDROPHIL

This initiative marks an important milestone not only for the partner municipalities but also for the future of digital, resilient WASH services in Ukraine. By combining cutting-edge tools with local capacity building, the project lays the foundation for long-term stability, better performance, and more reliable services for communities in need. As the model evolves and is replicated, it has the potential to shape a new standard of utility management in regions recovering from conflict, creating lasting value far beyond the project’s initial scope.