Water is absolutely essential for life and plays many key functions in our bodies. Without water, humans are only able to survive for a few days. It is therefore extremely important to monitor and ensure the proper quality of water in our lives. Polish and Ukrainian partners decided to explore this topic through the implementation of a joint project entitled “Monitoring the quality of raw water used in the production of drinking and recreational water, for chemical and microbiological hazards, including agents causing infectious diseases that result from human activity” (acronym WaterWatch).
On 21st March 2025, the opening conference of the WaterWatch project was held at the Castle and Park Complex in Krasiczyn, attended by almost 260 people, half of them via online transmission. The event was broadcast live for all district sanitary and epidemiological stations of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship and for employees of the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate.
As part of the project, laboratory equipment will be purchased on both sides of the border. Purchases will be supplemented with reagents, standards, auxiliary materials necessary for research (chemical, microbiological and epidemiological). Thanks to the funds received from the Poland – Ukraine Programme, microbiological and chemical monitoring of water will also be carried out. This will include the determination of bacteria and viruses that enter the water with domestic sewage. Such contaminants can cause rapidly spreading epidemics. Monitoring will also include microplastic particles.
The project will also include training events for those, who are responsible for the research process and the preparation of research reports. These activities will be accompanied by an educational and promotional campaign including competitions for schools, local information meetings, conferences and publications in the media.
The total value of the project is 2 522 707.00 EUR, including the Programme’s co-funding of 2 270 436.30 EUR.
More information about the project can be found here
A short piece of regional TV on the project is available at the link here
