ANSP: Water from over 70 percent of wells in Moldova unsafe for drinking

Water from over 70 percent of the wells in the country is not safe for drinking and does not meet sanitary standards, warns specialists from the National Public Health Agency (ANSP). They urge villagers to clean and disinfect the wells.

ANSP hygienist Liliana Carp said that in many localities, the water in wells does not meet sanitary standards. In Anenii Noi district alone, where a large outbreak of swine fever was recently recorded, specialists took 21 samples from wells. Water quality in Roșcani, Calfa and Calfa Nouă is constantly monitored to prevent any danger to public health.

Drinking water in the area comes mostly from artesian wells and public wells. Artesian wells reach depths of up to 142 meters and are protected by a thick layer of rock and clay, reducing the risk of harmful substances infiltrating.

The specialist said that in the spring, the water from the wells must be checked and treated, and many springs need to be cleaned and sanitized.

The results of drinking water quality monitoring from wells over the past years indicate quite high levels of non-compliance in both chemical and microbiological parameters. This situation is characteristic of groundwater and is mainly determined by the lack of centralized sewer systems, the unsanitary conditions of localities, the placement of latrines, toilets, and dumpsites in the immediate vicinity of wells. The most unfavorable situation in terms of water supply from underground wells was recorded in the districts of Anenii Noi, Căușeni, Fălești, Ștefan Vodă, Cahul and Gagauzia.

The specialist mentioned that in the urban sector, the situation is better, with over 97 percent of citizens having access to the water supply network, while in the rural sector, about 50% of residents have tap water access.

Statistics show that the majority of the population in rural areas consume water from wells.