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 Buffer Capacity and Technical Challenge Total alkalinity is a key indicator of the buffer capacity of water, which determines its ability to neutralize acidic compounds and maintain the relative stability of the pH value. In the context of water supply in Mykolaiv, this parameter is critical for assessing the aggressiveness of the environment and predicting the rate of corrosion processes in distribution networks. In the context of Mykolaiv, this indicator is of great importance for the operation of reverse osmosis systems and the durability of pipes. The hydrochemical profile of the Buh estuary is characterized by naturally higher alkalinity indicators compared to the waters of the Dnieper River. This difference is due to the specifics of estuarine processes and the genesis of water masses, which has become a critical factor in changing the source of water supply for urban networks designed for Dnipro indicators. Studies have confirmed that high alkalinity combined with rigidity caused the pipes to rapidly overgrow with mineral deposits. If the "salt brine" dissolved the metal, then high alkalinity created conditions for the formation of a solid precipitate. This led to the fact that the throughput of the surviving sections of the water pipeline significantly decreased at the beginning of 2026. For engineers, data on alkalinity is key. High alkalinity requires additional reagents to correct the composition of the water before filtration. At point No. 4 (Alluv), where the exposure of seawater is maximum, alkalinity correlated with a high sulfate content, creating a complex chemical cocktail that became a real test for reverse osmosis membranes. Domino effect in the interaction of indicators The hydrochemical passport clearly demonstrates the relationship: when salinity increases (the marker is chlorides), alkalinity also changes, which entails fluctuations in pH. This "domino effect" was especially clearly traced during spatio-temporal analysis. At points with the highest anthropogenic load (Embankment and Yacht Club), pH buffer stability was the lowest. This means that the water in these areas is the most "sensitive" to any new contaminants. In particular, after the shelling of the coastal zone, when fuel residues and construction debris got into the water, local "shock" pH changes were observed. This once again confirms that the Buh estuary within Mykolaiv has lost its natural ability to self-regulate. The transformation of the acid-base characteristics of water reflects the scale of the infrastructure challenge faced by Mykolaiv. Detailed documentation of these processes allows us to ensure the transition to a qualitatively new stage of water supply, where fresh water will meet all criteria of hydrochemical safety and stability. 79