"They can go to a bucket." A village in Khabarovsk Krai has been living without a wastewater treatment plant for almost 20 years.

The village of Mukhen in Khabarovsk Krai has had no wastewater treatment facilities since 2008. They were dismantled because authorities deemed their maintenance "inappropriate."

As Gleb Donbrov, an assistant to a Khabarovsk City Duma deputy, reported on his channel, staff was subsequently reduced and the metal structures were removed. At the same time, wastewater monitoring ceased.

"Waste from the Mukhensky Vodokanal Municipal Unitary Enterprise is now discharged through manholes near the hospital and Kindergarten No. 18. During floods, the sewage floods the village streets," Donbrov writes.

Tatyana, a resident of the village, told NeMoskva that she contacted the regional prosecutor's office in August and December of last year.

"When the assistant prosecutor heard what the problem was, he said, 'Well, we need to conduct a lot of inspections here, these are serious issues.' He didn't even want to take the complaint at first. And then he said, 'Can't residents find a solution themselves if they see a problem?' They could use a bucket and then take it out, or maybe put a portable toilet outside. Yeah, right outside, by the time a 70-year-old disabled person gets down there from a high-rise building, they'll lose everything along the way, sorry!" Tatyana exclaims indignantly. "So, apparently, we're getting back on our feet, toward our bright future."

In addition to sewage, the village faces water quality issues. In 2018, one of the wells supplying the village was sealed, deemed unfit for use. In early 2024, Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing) tested the water quality of the second, final well. It was found to also fail to meet sanitary and epidemiological standards, as its quality had not been monitored in any way. However, the second well was never sealed: in June, samples provided by the water utility showed standard values, and the water was deemed fit for use by residents.

Last week, Rosstat reported that sewerage access has dramatically increased in Russia. Only 13,7% of residents used cesspools last year, compared to 18,2% in 2022.

Photo: Gleb Donbrov.