The LIFE-U-SPRING project aims to strengthen Ukraine’s water supply and wastewater treatment (WS&WWT) systems in line with EU standards. It addresses critical sector challenges by identifying, piloting, and scaling technical, financial, and managerial solutions, with a strong focus on capacity building. Over 200 professionals—including civil servants, utility managers, engineers, solution providers, and consultants—will engage in training programmes, hackathons, and study visits.
Key activities include developing an online catalogue with 100+ proven WS&WWT solutions from Ukraine and the EU, conducting a baseline assessment to identify technological and managerial gaps, and implementing pilot projects—such as 200 kW solar panel installations, a regional-level working group, and a project financing pilot—to showcase innovative approaches to resource efficiency and war-risk resilience.
The project will also establish the WS&WWT Alliance and a Project Preparation Facility to promote cross-sector collaboration and sustain results. Through digital tools like the Urban Water Management Portal, an online course, and targeted outreach, LIFE-U-SPRING will ensure knowledge sharing and continued professional development. This integrated approach supports resilient, efficient, and sustainable WS&WWT infrastructure for Ukraine’s post-war recovery.

Overall objective: To strengthen Ukraine’s water supply and wastewater treatment systems in line with EU standards by developing, piloting, and scaling technical, financial, and managerial solutions while building sector capacity.
Specific objectives:
Identify, profile, and scale up feasible financial, managerial and technical solutions in the field of water supply and wastewater treatment.
Implement and demonstrate practical, scalable pilot solutions for water supply and wastewater treatment (WS&WWT) in the Western Bug and Syan Rivers Basin
Enhance awareness and build capacity within Ukraine's urban water management sector by providing knowledge, tools, and training for a range of stakeholders
Ensure long-term sustainability, replicability, and wide-scale implementation of the project results.

1.Knowledge and tools – Online catalogue of 100+ water management solutions, self-assessment toolkit for local authorities, service providers directory, and 8 explainers & 10 briefs to guide WS&WWT improvements.
2. Capacity building – Over 200 professionals trained via offline and online programmes, seminars, workshops, and networking events; 120+ stakeholders engaged in study visits, hackathons, and scaling activities.
3. Community-level strategies – Detailed blueprints, feasibility assessments, and revised water management plans (aligned with EU directives) for Horodok and Zolochiv, with updated GIS data and technical documentation.
4. Pilot infrastructure projects – Solar installations (200 kW) at WS&WWT facilities in Horodok and Zolochiv, reducing CO₂ emissions by 0.112 tonnes/year; technical, managerial, and financial audits for 8 facilities.
5. Institutional frameworks – Establishment of the Western Bug & Syan River Basin Working Group with regular meetings; financing applications for pilot facilities targeting affordable loans and EIB programmes.