At Bukovel, monitoring water quality is all about ensuring environmental safety and a comfortable stay for our guests. Known for its ski slopes and breathtaking landscapes, the resort welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Water is one of the essential resources that keeps everything running smoothly and ensures visitors enjoy their stay. This concerns not only drinking water, but also water in recreational areas and lakes, as well as water that flows back into the environment. That’s why water quality monitoring is such a vital part of managing the resort.
Why is water monitoring so important at Bukovel?
- Protecting guest health: The quality of drinking water and water in recreational lakes directly affects visitors’ health. Regular checks help prevent outbreaks of intestinal infections and other illnesses linked to poor water quality.
- Environmental safety: Nestled in the Carpathians – a unique natural region – Bukovel takes special care to prevent pollution. Untreated wastewater could harm rivers, lakes, local wildlife, and the broader ecosystem.
- Reputation and sustainable development: Water quality reflects the resort’s environmental responsibility. Maintaining high standards strengthens Bukovel’s reputation as a clean and safe destination, supporting long-term sustainable growth.
- Compliance with regulations: Ukraine has strict rules for drinking water quality and wastewater management. Continuous monitoring ensures the resort meets all legal requirements.
Key aspects of water quality monitoring at the resort:
Drinking water monitoring
- Bukovel’s drinking water comes from the Vylchynets Stream, a left-bank tributary of the Hnylytsia River in the Prut River basin.
- Parameters checked: Physical-chemical properties (color, odor, turbidity, hardness, pH), bacteriological indicators (presence of E. coli, total microbial count), and the levels of heavy metals and other chemicals.
- Frequency: Bacteriological tests are conducted twice a month, while sanitary-chemical analyses are done quarterly by the Bohorodchany branch of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
Monitoring recreational water bodies
- Lake of Youth: This artificial lake, used for swimming and water activities, requires careful oversight.
- Parameters checked: Along with general physical-chemical indicators, microbiological analysis is a priority to detect any pathogenic microorganisms. Water is monitored before the season starts and throughout the summer by the same Bohorodchany branch.
Wastewater monitoring
- Treatment facilities: Modern treatment plants on-site ensure wastewater is cleaned to meet all regulatory standards.
- Parameters checked: Efficiency is monitored for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended solids.
- Monitoring schedule: The Dniester Basin Water Resources Administration conducts a full annual review of wastewater quality and treatment efficiency.
All test protocols and results for drinking, recreational, and wastewater are securely stored in the resort’s water and sewage department.
Monitoring water quality at Bukovel is more than a formal procedure – it’s a comprehensive system designed to maintain safety, environmental stability, and sustainable development. With modern equipment and continuous oversight, the resort keeps water standards high, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for thousands of visitors while protecting the unique Carpathian nature.
Previously, we shared details about Bukovel’s drinking water filtration station and wastewater treatment facilities.
Learn more about the resort’s approach to sustainability in an interview with Bohdan Krasavtsev, Head of Bukovel’s Office of Sustainable Development.