The project “Replacement of heating systems’ old pipes in two houses”of ACMH “Budivelnyk” in Yevpatoria

Ukraine is a country with acute problem in housing and municipal economy.  The situation is expected to improve with creation of Associations of Co-Owners of Multi-Apartment Houses. Yevpatoria is one of the southern cities of the country, which has long been heading in this direction and is an active partner of the UNDP Project "Municipal Governance and Sustainable Development Programme".

ACMH "Budivelnyk" successfully implemented a project of replacement of heating systems’ old pipes in two houses # 59 and 88 on Nekrasov Street in Evpatoria. Why was this project interesting? The peculiarity was that it covered two houses, where many families reside. The houses were constructed in 1985 and 1989. No capital repair has been made since the time of the houses’ construction. Until 2008 the houses were maintained by a local ZHEK. Due to permanent negligence and low quality of the ZHEK services, basements of the houses were constantly full of water and liquid wastes leaking from the damaged pipes of the house sewage system. As a result, water supply and heating systems pipes located in the basements rusted and were in poor technical condition. Frequent ruptures occurring in the pipes caused flooding of the basement, destruction of construction elements of the basement, entrances and apartments of the ground floor, appearance of unpleasant stench and breeding of mosquitoes, absence of water supply and heating in the apartments

.

Dwellers of the houses often could not normally use bath/shower facilities, it was problematic to wash dishes and launder clothes. During the cold season temperature in the apartments was much below the required one. It caused appearance of mould on the walls and destruction of plaster. All these considerably worsened sanitary and hygiene conditions in the houses’ premises, created inconveniences for the dwellers and affected the dwellers health.

ACMH "Budivelnyk" is an association of residents of the building and has its own budget. Residents regularly contribute to a special bank account.   Overall 247 people took part  in the project (144 - women, 103 men) and spent UAH 73116, including UAH 31713 contributed by the city council, UAH 25947 by  UNDP/MGSDP from the Fund of Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UAH 15456  were collected by ACMH residents.

 During project implementation, the contractors did not face any problems and both oblects were completed on time. Residents of the houses were motivated to provide assistance to the contractors and performed cleaning and removal of construction wastes from the basements.

The condition of the heating systems pipes was not the only problem. The residents of the houses also replaced the electricity systems and water supply pipes.

Local ACMHs in Yevpatoria create the federation of the ACMHs. It is planned that the specialists in different areas will work for it including the economists, lawyers, accountants and others a one person cannot be competent in all area.

As a result of project implementation in the houses number 59 and 88, the residents finally got comfort in their homes. Implementation of the project has significantly improved sanitary conditions in and around the areas of the house. The stench disappeared from porches and apartments, the rooms and basements became clean and dry. This has considerable improved the quality of life of residents.

As they say, «Amat Victoria curam» - each victory loves preparation.

Nazar Brechko, intern UNDP/MGSDP