Evaluation and analysis of resource savings of water use in the regions of Ukraine

Purpose. The purpose of the study, the results of which are presented in this paper, is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of resource savings of water use in the regions of Ukraine and analysis of its dynamics for 2016–2020 as a basis for sustainable water management. Results. In this study, the value of integrated indicators of the degree of savings in the use of water resources for each region of Ukraine for every year of the study period is calculated and assessed. According to the relevant results, the annual ratings of the regions were formed. The regions of Ukraine were grouped according to a comprehensive assessment of the level of resource efficiency of water use in the regions, based on the “psychophysical scale of desirability”, which is based on the generalized Harrington's desirability function. Thus, in 2020 all oblasts are grouped accordingly: (1) very high level of resource savings of water use: Poltava, Vinnytsia, Volyn, Ivano-Frankivsk, Khmelnytsky, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Ternopil, Zhytomyr regions; (2) sufficient level of resource savings of water use: Chernivtsi, Rivne, Kyiv, Odessa, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Zakarpattia, Luhansk regions; (3) average (satisfactory) level of resource savings of water use: Lviv, Zaporizhia, Kherson regions. Scientific novelty. The methodology for a comprehensive assessment of resource savings of water use in the regions was presented and tested, which made it possible to analyze the resource savings of water use in the regions of Ukraine. It was found that in general for the study period in almost half of the cases (48.3%) a sufficient level of resource efficiency of water use was recorded, in 40.8% of cases – a very high level of resource efficiency of water use, and in 10.9% of cases – average (satisfactory) level of resource savings of water use. Practical value. The results of the study can be used to identify reserves for improving resource savings of water use in the regions of Ukraine, as well as to assess and forecast the level of resource savings of water use.