Utility failure cuts water and power to 500,000 in Primorsky Krai

A major utility failure in Russia's Primorsky Krai has left over 500,000 people without water services. The crisis was triggered by equipment damage at the 110 kV Shtykovo electrical substation, which subsequently disabled essential water pumping stations.

The outages have heavily impacted Vladivostok, Artyom, and the Nadezhdinsky District. Reports indicate that 3,660 apartment buildings and 16,500 private houses have lost water access. The disruption has also affected 224 socially significant facilities, including schools and medical centers.

Because the production of hot water requires a supply of cold water, heating services have also faced temporary suspensions. In response to the shortage, residents have been lining up with containers at municipal water tankers and fire engines, while bottled water supplies in local supermarkets have been rapidly depleted. Technical teams are currently working to repair the damaged substation equipment and restore power to the pumping networks.