Only 22 % of rural territories in Ukraine have centralised water supply, and water disposal, less than 2.5 %. In many amalgamated communities, this problem was determined as a higher priority. Today, they have resources to solve it and will obtain all required assistance from the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, and Housing and Utilities of Ukraine and leading experts in the area.

That was told by First Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Construction, and Housing and Utilities of Ukraine Viacheslav Nehoda during the conference-workshop on practical the implementation of projects in the area of supply of good-quality drinking water to residents of amalgamated territorial communities.

"The problem of centralised good-quality water supply and disposal is acute with most rural population centres. We focused on the amalgamated communities because they are able to start solving the problem and become an example to follow showing that the integration of efforts becomes the basis of success in raising living standards of communities," Viacheslav Nehoda noted.

He reminded that the resource for the implementation of communities development projects, including water supply and water disposal, comprised the government grant for the development of infrastructure of amalgamated communities in the amount of UAH 1.0 billion, and the State Fund of Regional Development for which UAH 3.0 billion were earmarked, and UAH 2.9 billion in the State Budget for the social and economic development of regions - the programme administered by the Ministry of Finance.

"Hence, the money is available, but the projects themselves are scarce. Now, we reveal communities where the issue of water supply and water disposal is on the top of the agenda. The Ministry is set for providing experts to assist in the development by amalgamated communities of respective projects and their implementation. Also, experienced experts of the "Decentralisation Support in Ukraine" DESPRO Swiss-Ukrainian project and the Ukrainian Association of District and Region Councils dispose themselves for joining the process," the First Deputy Minister informed.

Viacheslav Nehoda also called the attending representatives of amalgamated communities for counter-proposals with respect to practical steps in the resolution of the said problem.