NUBIP STUDENTS – AGENTS OF CHANGE: HOW WE TEACH COMMUNITIES TO TEST WATER FOR NITRATES 

18 June, 2026 – Within the framework of the Jean Monnet Project "EU_NITRA_UKR" (No. 101238988 – ERASMUS-JMO-2025-HEI-TCH-RSCH), the NUBiP Ukraine team conducted a field visit to the research centres in the communities of Vorzel, Mytnytsia, and Hatne (Kyiv region). The event was integrated into the Agrobiology Faculty Field Day, which allowed us to combine scientific work with direct communication with local residents.

       Purpose of the Visit

       The visit aimed to practically implement the project’s objectives:

  To train students and schoolchildren in the methodology of field testing water for nitrate content;

  To monitor the quality of drinking water in private and public wells used by local communities;

  To raise awareness about the risks of nitrate pollution, especially for children and vulnerable groups;

  To disseminate knowledge about the EU Nitrates Directive and the importance of its implementation in Ukraine.

       Course of the Event

       Students who had undergone prior training within the project became the key agents of the day. They independently collected water samples from wells used by local residents for drinking purposes; conducted field testing using a portable nitrate meter and test strips; compared the results with monitoring data collected by the department under the state programme of 2007-2011; distributed nitrate test strips to local residents, along with simple instructions for self-use; delivered mini-lectures on the dangers of nitrate pollution, particularly for children, pregnant women, and the elderly.

       Test Results – Positive Dynamics

       Preliminary results indicate that the nitrate pollution situation in some wells has improved compared to 2007-2011.

The most striking example is a well where, 20 years ago, nitrate levels exceeded 140 mg/L (with the standard being 50 mg/L). Today’s testing showed a result of 55 mg/L – only a slight exceedance.

       We do not claim that this improvement is solely the result of targeted measures. It may be due to changes in precipitation patterns, shifts in agricultural practices, natural self-purification, or even depopulation processes. However, the trend is encouraging. We see that even under the difficult conditions of today – when war destroys infrastructure and resources are limited – the water quality situation in this community is gradually improving.

       The Most Important – The People

       But the most significant outcome of today was not the numbers. The most important thing was the faces and words of ordinary people. People who have been drinking well water for decades, unable to afford bottled water, saw for the first time that someone had come to them not with inspections, not with fines, but with care.

       In times of war, when every day is a struggle, when state institutions often do not function locally, when people feel abandoned and unwanted – our presence became a sign that someone remembers them.

       "We’ve gotten used to the fact that no one comes. The water is what it is, and we drink it. Thank you for coming, for showing us how to test it, and for explaining the danger to our grandchildren” – we heard such words more than once today. An old man from Mytnytsia, who has been using a well for over 30 years, thanked us for the test strips: “Now at least I’ll know when I can drink it and when I can’t. Because you can’t tell by looking – it seems clean, but in reality, it's poison”.

       The students who conducted the testing were deeply moved by the sincerity of the gratitude. Illia Opryshko, a student, said: “I thought we were just fulfilling a project task. But it turned out we were doing something truly important”.

       Comparison with the Past – Hope for the Future

       The data from 2007–2011, which we used for comparison, showed a critical state of many wells in these communities. Back then, 20 years ago, the problem was systemic: high nitrate concentrations in drinking water were recorded almost everywhere. Today, we see that the situation is changing – slowly but steadily.

       This may be a consequence of reduced use of nitrogen fertilisers in the private sector, the impact of information campaigns from previous years, depopulation processes, or simply fluctuations in groundwater levels. But the fact remains: water quality is somewhat improving, and this gives hope that targeted work yields results.

       The Importance of Communication with Communities

       Within the EU_NITRA_UKR project, we aim not only to collect data but also to establish a sustainable communication channel between university science and local communities. Today's visit is an excellent example of such cooperation.

       The students did not just take samples and conduct testing. They:

  Explained to residents what nitrates are, where they come from, and why they are dangerous;

  Taught them how to use test strips so they can independently monitor water quality;

  Told them about the European experience in combating nitrate pollution and what Ukraine has already done in this regard;

  Distributed informational materials with simple advice: how to reduce nitrate content in water before drinking, how to store water properly, and when to see a doctor;

  Encouraged children to join the challenges #StopNitrates and #EcoSchool, so that through play and creativity, they can develop an environmental culture from an early age.

       Significance for the Project and Next Steps

       Today’s event was not just another activity within the project. It demonstrated that the ideas of the circular economy, European standards, and environmental norms can be brought closer to the real lives of ordinary people.

       The students who participated in the visit gained invaluable experience in fieldwork, communication with diverse population groups, and the practical application of their knowledge. They have become true agents of change – not on paper, but in action. Local residents received not just test strips and numbers. They received attention, care, and the understanding that their problems matter to someone. And this, perhaps, is the most valuable outcome of today.

       Event Participants

  Students of NUBiP Ukraine (Faculty of Design and Engineering, Agrobiology Faculty) – key project agents;

  Schoolchildren from local schools (communities of Vorzel, Mytnytsia, Hatne);

  Lecturers and researchers of NUBiP (including the project’s operational director and experts);

  Local residents – more than 20 families who took the opportunity to test their water;

  Representatives of local self-government bodies.

The EU_NITRA_UKR project team proved that science can be close to people, and European standards – to the real life of Ukrainian communities. We didn’t just talk about nitrates – we showed them, explained the risks and gave tools for protection.

And most importantly – we heard people who feel abandoned and unwanted in wartime. And we proved that this is not so.

Because safe water is not a luxury, it is the right of every person. Especially in a country that is fighting for its future.