Rostov Region Lacks Funds for New Gundorovo-Gukovo Water Pipeline
Authorities of the Rostov region plan to begin construction of the second branch of the Gukovo-Gundorovo water pipeline in 2028. This was announced by Deputy Governor Vladimir Revenko at the Interfax press center in Rostov. Currently, it is the most problematic pipeline in the region, with constant failures leaving tens of thousands of residents in mining areas without water.
According to Revenko, the problem is divided into two parts. The first is the distribution pipelines in cities and towns. Their reconstruction and construction is the task of the «Management of Water Supply Systems Development» — the largest water utility in the Rostov region, owned by the regional government.
The second part is the main large-diameter pipeline.
«The construction of one kilometer of a pipeline with a diameter of 1000 millimeters costs about 100 million rubles (approximately $1 million at current rates). We have (the Gundorovo-Gukovo pipeline — Ed.) 82 kilometers, with large diameter approximately 67 kilometers. So you can multiply the numbers (to understand the project cost — Ed.). This is a very large amount of money, and the region doesn»t have it,« said Revenko.
According to him, the authorities of the Rostov region will ask the federal government to allocate funding or a loan under the program for modernizing utility infrastructure. If this succeeds, then the second reserve pipeline will be built, and the existing «glass» one can be brought into «reasonable technical condition.»
About why the existing pipeline is called a «glass piece» and why it needs a second branch, we wrote here.
However, before asking for money for the pipeline, design and estimate documentation is needed. This, Revenko says, the Rostov region authorities plan to develop in 2026–2027.
«Then in 2028 we will be able to access the [construction] site and proceed gradually, because the federal government won»t find such money in one year, to do work between pumping stations,« said the deputy governor.
As for Gukovo specifically, which suffers the most from water outages, here the water utility «URSV» is required to develop a plan by January 30 — how to divide the city into sectors by installing valves and hydraulic measures. This will allow in case of another major failure to cut off water supply not to the entire Gukovo, but to a part of it.
«For 15 years, the shut-off valves at the pumping stations have not been changed, in fact, they are not operational. The governor has made a decision to allocate money for the valves, but for their replacement, a phased plan is needed,» explained Revenko.
The plan must be ready by January 30. It is planned to start its implementation no later than February 7, in order to get the first result in improving water supply in Gukovo and Zverevo by the end of the same month.
