Tap water may become unsafe to drink: chlorination of the network begins in Mykolaiv

November 2, 2026, Mykolaiv will begin preventive disinfection of its water supply networks using chlorine. Residents are warned that during the work, tap water may have a strong smell of chlorine, and it will be prohibited to use it for drinking or cooking without first treating it.

Mykolaivvodokanal Municipal Enterprise announced the start of the work. The company explains that disinfection is necessary to protect the water from harmful bacteria and microorganisms that may enter it as it passes through the city’s water supply system.

According to the water utility, water leaving the treatment plants meets established standards. However, it then passes through an extensive network of underground pipes stretching more than 1,200 kilometers. The condition of the network and the long distance water travels to outlying neighborhoods and homes can cause its quality to deteriorate at monitoring points. This is why the company plans to carry out preventive disinfection of the water supply system. Residents are expected to notice a strong smell of chlorine in the water during flushing. The company emphasizes that this is an expected occurrence during the procedure.

At the same time, residents are advised to follow the water-use guidelines during disinfection. In particular, untreated tap water must not be used for drinking or cooking. To prepare water for household use, pour it into a container and leave it uncovered for at least 3–4 hours. The chlorine should evaporate during this time. Once the water has been left to stand, it can be used for the relevant household needs.

Routine household activities do not need to change: you can continue doing laundry, cleaning, washing dishes, and flushing the toilet as usual.

The exact duration of chlorination will be determined based on samples taken at the city’s monitoring points. Mykolaivvodokanal Municipal Enterprise promises to announce when disinfection is complete on its social media pages.

Therefore, before the work begins, residents should take the water utility’s recommendations into account, set aside water for drinking and cooking, and follow the company’s official updates on the progress and completion of disinfection.

We previously reported:

• River water for Mykolaiv is being treated around the clock despite shelling
• Chlorine levels in the water will triple: Mykolaiv prepares to flush its networks
• Drinking water does not always reach the taps: Reshetilov prepares to clean Mykolaiv’s networks
• Dirty water? Senkevych points to Mykolaiv residents’ own pipes
• Water quality in Mykolaiv is improving but remains below standard: high color and turbidity