BBC News Russian Service
·Aug 2026
It Smells of Feces, but Is “Safe.” Why Flooding Triggered a Crisis in Tyumen
Exceptional rainfall, a sharp rise in the Tura River and prolonged July heat caused organic matter to decompose rapidly, reducing oxygen levels, killing fish and producing foul-smelling compounds. Water supplied from the Tura through Tyumen’s Metelevsky treatment plant remained within tested microbiological and toxicological safety standards but failed odor and taste regulations, prompting residents to avoid it and buy bottled water. Experts say the aging treatment system, delayed emergency declaration, inadequate backup supplies and limited alternative capacity turned a difficult natural event into a municipal crisis. Authorities increased activated-carbon and chlorine dosing and began water deliveries, but reconstruction of the plant has been repeatedly delayed until 2028. The episode highlights the need for diversified water sources, real-time river monitoring, reserve capacity and infrastructure designed for more frequent climate-driven weather extremes.