Mitryasova, O. CHRONICLES OF THIRST: DOCUMENTING MYKOLAIV'S WATER SECURITY CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN A WAR-AFFECTED CITY: Monograph. Mykolaiv: PMBSNU, 2026, 124 p.

CHRONICLES OF THIRST: DOCUMENTING MYKOLAIV'S WATER SECURITY CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN A WAR-AFFECTED CITY Fig. 1.5. Project of the first water supply system of the city. The network of springs and the era of water carriers Over time, technology has improved. The first fragile clay pipes were replaced by reliable cast-iron lines, which made it possible to reduce water losses and ensure its stable flow to city blocks. This system has become a source of special pride for Mykolaiv residents, and not only because of its technical implementation. The water supply system received real scientific recognition thanks to the visit of the outstanding hygienist Fyodor Erisman. Having conducted a thorough analysis of Nikolaev water, he was amazed by its indicators. In his reports, he noted the exceptional purity and softness of the resource, which was a real rarity for the arid South (Fig. 1.6; 1.7). In addition to Bogoyavlensk, a spring at the top of the Spassky River played a critical role. Opened through a system of catchments back in 1790, it simultaneously fed both city fountains and individual water intake points. However, access to this good even then had its price, which emphasized the strategic value of water: the right to use the water supply cost residents three rubles in silver per year, a significant amount, which, however, guaranteed access to the source of life. These first steps — from catchments to cast-iron pipes — laid the foundation for the culture of water use in Mykolaiv. The city learned to value quality, realizing that every drop of fresh water in this region is the result of a lot of work and engineering calculation. 14