Odesa prepares to raise water tariff to 65.54 UAH: reasons and authorities' reaction

Odesa prepares for a significant increase in water costs

In Odesa, the issue of raising tariffs for centralized water supply and sewage is on the agenda. The corresponding draft resolution has already received support from the Executive Committee of the Odesa City Council. As reported by RBC-Ukraine citing local authorities, the document must now be reviewed by the Odesa City Military Administration. This decision will become part of the general trend of revising utility tariffs in Ukraine, which has gained momentum in 2026.

The proposed adjustment concerns the activities of LLC "Infoks" (branch "Infoksvodokanal"). If the project is approved, the total cost of the complex of services for the population will amount to 65.54 hryvnias per cubic meter including VAT. Without tax, the tariff will be 54.62 hryvnias. For comparison, this is a significant change compared to previous periods, which will inevitably affect the payments of city residents.

Economic reasons for price revision

The Odesa City Council explained the need to raise tariffs with objective economic factors. Since 2021, the enterprise has faced a sharp increase in operating expenses. The key drivers of the increase in production costs were the prices for fuel and lubricants (FLM) and electricity, necessary for the operation of pumping stations and sewage treatment plants.

In addition, the increase in the minimum wage played a significant role, which required a revision of the payroll fund of the water utility employees. In the absence of the possibility for further cost reduction, the company management and local authorities agree that a tariff adjustment is an inevitable measure to maintain the uninterrupted operation of the water supply system.

Regional context and comparison with other cities

Odesa is not the only city where water costs are being reviewed in 2026. Since July 1 of the current year, a number of Ukrainian cities have already begun to raise tariffs for water supply and sewage. The most significant price jumps have been recorded in Uman, Pavlohrad, Berdychiv, Vinnytsia, Uzhhorod, Cherkasy, and Kremenchuk. In some of these settlements, the cost of services has increased by more than two, and in some places even three times.

In August 2026, tariff increases occurred in Lviv and Poltava. In Kyiv, the situation remains uncertain: the capital authorities have not yet made a final decision on new rates, despite active discussions and proposals to raise the cost to 90 hryvnias per cubic meter. The Odesa initiative fits into this nationwide trend of aligning tariffs with the real costs of utility companies.

Social protection and approval procedure

Despite the tariff increase, the city council assured that state benefits and the citizens' right to receive subsidies will remain unchanged. This means that socially vulnerable layers of the population will be able to compensate for the increase in expenses through existing mechanisms of state social support.

The next stage of the procedure will be the consideration of the proposal by the Odesa City Military Administration. It is this government body that has the authority to approve new tariffs and put them into effect. The decision will depend on the assessment of the current economic situation and the city budget's readiness for possible social consequences of price increases.