Irina Aidanova, head of the press service of Tyumen's Vodokanal water utility, in a video address criticized residents dissatisfied with water quality and threatened to stop the enterprise, leaving 40% of the city without water. After a wave of condemnation on social media, she deleted the video.
Olga Sarbaeva, general director of Rosvodokanal Tyumen, apologized for the employee's words, stating that the statement does not correspond to the company's official position. She promised to bring Aidanova to disciplinary responsibility and assured that there would be no water shutoffs.
Tyumen residents have been complaining for three weeks about water with a "fecal smell" and fish deaths in the Tura River. Independent samples, paid for by the residents themselves, showed that the water does not meet sanitary standards: violations were found in smell, taste, turbidity, pH, as well as excess concentrations of manganese, aluminum, and iron.
The research results were sent to Rospotrebnadzor and the prosecutor's office. The initiative group stated that the inspection results will be used for filing claims, recalculations, and lawsuits.
Authorities explain the deterioration of water quality by flooding and the Tura River overflowing its banks due to heavy rains. Governor Alexander Moor introduced a regional-level emergency regime in Tyumen and its surroundings. In two days, a ton of dead fish was collected in the city. The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case on the fact of violation of water supply quality.
Earlier, activists collected more than 50,000 rubles for an independent water study, with samples taken on July 31. In Tyumen, 230 points for distributing clean water were opened.