Strong Solutions for Water Infrastructure: Results of EPANET Training
Hromadas presented the results of a training programme on modelling water supply systems using EPANET software.
Ukraine’s international partners, through the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine (PFRU), support initiatives that strengthen social cohesion and community resilience, including by helping hromadas plan, manage and improve their water supply systems more effectively.
On 9 June, the final event of the training programme “Modelling Water Supply Systems of Territorial Hromadas Using EPANET” took place in Kyiv. Fifteen participants from seven hromadas presented the results of three months of work and demonstrated how hydraulic modelling can help identify weak points in water networks, plan infrastructure upgrades and support evidence-based technical decisions.
The event brought together hromada representatives from seven oblasts, international partners, donor organisations and representatives of the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, creating space for professional exchange, discussion of current challenges in the water supply sector and exploration of opportunities for further cooperation.
Opening the event, Iryna Perehinchuk, Head of the Water Supply and Sanitation Unit of the Life Support Systems Department at the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, highlighted the central role of water infrastructure in community life:
Water is a basic necessity, a vital artery that runs through every sphere of life in each hromada.
This is especially relevant as many water supply systems in Ukraine were built decades ago and now need modernisation. With limited financial resources, hromadas need practical tools that help them understand the condition of their networks, prioritise investments and prepare technically sound projects that can attract donor and investment funding.
The programme started three months ago with a three-day in-person training, where participants learned how to use EPANET to model water supply networks and calculate key system parameters, including water flow, pressure, consumption and reservoir levels. The course also covered the basics of hydraulics, network and equipment characteristics, model development and the use of modelling results for technical decision-making.
After the training, hromadas spent two months developing their own water supply system models with mentoring support from water supply expert Serhii Karelin.
The next step will be for hromadas to prepare technical specifications and lists of equipment needed to modernise their water supply systems. These materials will inform further consideration of potential funding from PFRU and other partners interested in supporting modern, reliable and resilient water infrastructure in Ukrainian hromadas.
