Officials from the city of Elista have taken significant steps to address the long-standing water supply issues faced by its residents through the construction of the third line of the Verkhny Yashkul-Elista water pipeline. This project, spearheaded by local administration and federal authorities, aims to reduce the risks of emergencies and leaks on the current water main.
City head Maxim Sorokin, along with city manager Aldar Lidzhikov and local parliament deputies, conducted site inspections on March 11, 2025. The construction is being performed by OOO Master-Yug, which has reported substantial progress. According to chief engineer Alexey Pak, as of now, 16,900 meters out of the total 17,200 meters have been successfully laid, tested, and pressurized, marking approximately 87% completion of the project.
The final stretch of the pipeline, stretching 300 meters, is anticipated to be completed by the end of March 2025. Water supply to the new water intake is expected by May 9, 2025, pending favorable weather conditions. "No difficulties are anticipated; we are progressing according to schedule," Pak stated.
Meanwhile, the city assembly is closely monitoring the construction, with Maxim Sorokin expressing optimism, stating, "It is gratifying to see we only have 300 meters left to be connected. With the material already on site, we believe we will finish the project by summer, significantly alleviating the city's water supply problems."
Despite these constructive advancements, the water utility, MUP Vodokanal, has faced scrutiny from the local prosecutor's office following multiple accidents on the existing pipeline leading to significant service interruptions. From March 7 to March 9, 2025, these issues resulted in water supply disruptions lasting over 24 hours for many residents, particularly affecting the Southern and Western regions of Elista.
The prosecutor's report highlighted failures on the part of the local government to adequately provide emergency water deliveries during this period. "Water delivery to affected areas was not properly organized," the report stated, emphasizing the need for accountability.
Subsequently, local officials received directives from the prosecutor's office to address these service failures, which included recalculations of charges for customers adversely affected by poor service. Legal actions were also initiated against the chief engineer of Vodokanal for administrative violations, underlining the seriousness of the situation.
Further complicaitons arose as the implementation of the water supply improvements coincided with the necessary reconstruction of pipeline No. 1, with active work being conducted on Ippodromnaya Street. The city assembly, led by Sorokin and Lidzhikov, has ensured regular follow-ups on the project’s progress.
Sanan Kartiev, General Director of the other contracting company involved, Gazvodstroy, reported, "We are currently on schedule, with 65% of the work completed on the reconstruction of pipeline No. 1. A total of 2,300 meters has been welded, laid, and tested on this pipeline, which spans 5,760 meters." Presently, the company is working on Ippodromnaya Street, and they have also welded 800 meters of pipes on Altn Bulg Street.
With April 30, 2025, set as the completion date for the works, both pipeline projects are now under intensive supervision to guarantee there are no lapses during the remaining construction phase. City officials remain committed to resolving the water challenges head-on, and with summer approaching, action is needed to prevent the kind of disruptions residents experienced just recently.
Awareness of the importance of these infrastructure projects has led to greater public interest and scrutiny, ensuring accountability from the contractors involved. Sorokin has maintained regular public communication about the status of both pipelines, noting, "This pipeline is significant for our city and the republic; we are dedicated to overseeing its construction closely. Timely updates are imperative as we navigate these necessary improvements."
The local government is determined to resolve the issues surrounding water supply and quality crises, with the collective aim of improving life for Elista’s residents. The new water pipeline is expected to handle about 25,000 cubic meters of water per day, significantly enhancing the distribution capabilities of the water supply network throughout the city.
Moving forward, the authorities will continue to enforce stricter oversight to prevent future service disruptions as they finalize and activate the new pipelines. The community's patience and cooperation are being sought as construction efforts ramp up, with hopes of tangible improvements seen by summer.