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 3.3. FROM SURVIVAL TO QUALITY: REFLECTION 2026 At the beginning of 2026, when Mykolaiv had already begun to emerge from the most acute phase of the infrastructure crisis, a second large-scale survey was conducted. This study was a logical continuation of the work of 2022, but its results showed a radical change in public demand and the evolution of the "water consciousness" of citizens. Transformation of expectations from "at least some" to "safe" water If in 2022 the headache of residents was the very fact of the presence of water in the network and the physical exhaustion of its extraction, then the 2026 survey recorded a qualitative leap in the requirements of the community. The fundamental difference between these two points of research lies in the content of the concept of "water danger": • In 2022, the danger was existential: the inability to wash your hands, a change in diet, and the complete destruction of plans (45% of respondents). • In 2026, the danger became scientific and technical: residents assessed the quality of indicators, dynamics and its impact on health. The results of the 2026 pilot survey record a transformation in the role of residents: from recipients of humanitarian support to active subjects of public environmental monitoring. If in 2022 59% of respondents felt acute indignation — an emotion directed to the past, to lost comfort — then in 2026 constructive anxiety directed to the future dominates. People analyze forecasts, are interested in cleaning methods, and demand transparency in monitoring. The 2026 survey took place against the backdrop of prolonged energy supply restrictions, which made it possible to record a new level of understanding among citizens of the interdependence of critical systems. The experience of blackouts has demonstrated that the stability of water supply is not only a matter of resource availability, but also a derivative of energy sustainability. The survey conducted in early 2026 was the final touch to our study. It confirmed that the city has not just returned water — it has regained the right to quality of life. The water danger, which paralyzed everyday life in 2022, has become a manageable challenge in 2026, which is solved through science, technology and the active position of every Mykolaiv resident. This is a transition from a survival strategy to a sustainable development strategy, where water is not just a scarce treasure, but a safe and reliable foundation for urban life. 97