Moldovan government approves five‑year national development program

Moldovan localities' residents will have access to safer, more efficient and more sustainable water and sanitation services, while authorities and operators will gain the necessary capacity to provide them. This is the main objective of the National Development Program for the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector for 2026–2030, approved by the Government. For the period 2026–2030, the total estimated cost of the measures provided for in the Program is about 598 million lei.

“Only two thirds of homes are connected to the water system and only one third to sewerage. Especially in schools, there are situations where we have a lot of work to do so that all children have access to dignified sanitation, and we understand that we will not be able to make these changes without access to European resources as well. It is an ambitious program, with high costs, but we have no option not to implement it if we want people to stay here, at home,” said Prime Minister Vasile Tofan.

The document sets out the priorities, the responsibilities of institutions, the financing mechanisms and the measures needed to modernize water supply and sanitation services.

One of the important directions of the Program is the more efficient organization of water and sanitation services. The authorities will promote cooperation between localities and the regionalization of services, so that they can be managed more efficiently and be more sustainable in the long term.

Special attention will be given to local public authorities and service operators, especially in rural localities. They will benefit from measures to develop administrative, technical and financial capacities, improve management and performance, as well as to prepare water safety plans and service improvement plans.

“The goal is simple: to achieve targets of access to safe water sources for at least 95% of the population and to sewerage networks for at least 65%, in order to provide good and safe services for people,” Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Vladimir Bolea said.

At the same time, the regulatory, authorization and control framework for the sector will be strengthened. In the field of sanitation, the Program provides for measures to apply wastewater treatment requirements in line with European Union legislation and international environmental standards.