PROSPECTS OF UKRAINE’S WATER RESOURCES UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MINING INDUSTRY

Abstract

The article examines the prospects for the development of Ukraine’s water resources under conditions of expanding mining activity, using the Inhulets River basin as one of the most technogenically loaded water systems in the country. Long-term discharges of highly mineralised mine waters are shown to cause persistent exceedances of chloride, sulphate, and total mineralisation levels, significantly limiting the suitability of water for irrigation and other economic uses.

Based on official monitoring data for 2021–2025, it is demonstrated that regulated flushing operations provide only short-term improvements in water quality, after which hydrochemical parameters rapidly return to critical values. The study identifies areas of the river basin with the highest hydrochemical load and reduced self-purification capacity, indicating systemic degradation of aquatic ecosystems.

A comparative analysis of international experience from countries with developed mining sectors highlights the effectiveness of closed water-use cycles, desalination technologies, digital monitoring, and adaptive management approaches. Two development scenarios for Ukraine are proposed: an inertial scenario that preserves current practices and an innovative scenario focused on digital monitoring, adaptive regulation, and harmonisation with European environmental standards. The implementation of the innovative scenario is shown to be essential for improving water security and environmental resilience during the post-war recovery period.