VIDEO // €24 million German investment brings safe drinking water to 800,000 citizens in Central Moldova

Public health security and access to vital resources in central Republic of Moldova are making a technological leap with the launch of Open Urban Development Program. Through a joint investment of 24 million euros, the water intake station on the Dniester River will be fully modernized, becoming the heart of a regional system that will supply more than 800,000 citizens in the municipality of Chișinău and the districts of Strășeni and Călărași.

The project, officially launched today is a model of international cooperation, supported by a 14‑million‑euro grant from the Government of Germany, via KfW bank. The remaining funding is provided by the Government of the Republic of Moldova (7.6 million euros) and the Chișinău City Hall (2 million euros), under the coordination of the Central Regional Development Agency (ADR Centru). The central element of the investment is the construction of a state‑of‑the‑art water intake station, capable of feeding a 52‑kilometer main pipeline that will connect the capital with towns and villages in the region by the end of 2026.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea emphasized during the event that this initiative addresses a fundamental need of the population, transforming the way the state manages surface water resources.

“One of the essential problems our residents face is the quality of drinking water. For this reason, the core of our strategy is the development based on surface waters, the development of intake stations, and of main pipelines that interconnect cities and, later on, villages. This is probably the most important project we can implement together, because water is a key element for the health and safety of every resident,” said Vladimir Bolea.

The new infrastructure targets not only quantity, but also safety under extreme weather conditions. Ambassador of Germany to Chișinău Hubert Knirsch highlighted the technical superiority of the new intake station, which will be protected against floods and accidental pollution.

“I am proud that Germany can make a direct and substantial contribution to raising Moldova’s water supply system to a high European standard. The new station will benefit from double intake channels and will be resilient to floods and climate change, while also preventing sediments and pollution from entering the system,” noted the German ambassador.

Beyond building networks and rural water mains, the long‑term success of the program depends on how efficiently it is managed. Vera Vitkin, the representative of KfW bank, drew attention to the need for a balanced approach between service quality and the economic viability of the operators.

“Infrastructure must be supported by quality services, and water operations must benefit from tariffs that cover costs while remaining affordable for the population. Otherwise, in the long run, the infrastructure will not be sustainable,” explained Vera Vitkin.

The completion of the five financing agreements signed on Thursday paves the way for construction sites that will change the lives of nearly one million people. In addition to engineering works, the project allocates one million euros for the institutional modernization of Apă‑Canal Chișinău, ensuring that, along with new pipelines, citizens will also benefit from resource management that meets European standards.