Authorities of Moldova lift state of alert on Dniester River, continue cleaning polluted riverbanks

The Environment Ministry announces the stabilization of the situation on the Dniester River, following the pollution incident that occurred at the beginning of March, this year, with the authorities deciding not to extend the previously imposed state of alert. Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder has made statements to this effect, after an evaluation meeting held on the platform of the National Crisis Management Center.

According to data collected through direct field monitoring and subsequent laboratory analyses, water quality indicators have remained within permitted limits. Although the imminent danger has passed, intervention teams will stay mobilized, in order to ensure the complete removal of any residues and to prevent secondary risks.

Minister Gheorghe Hajder emphasized that, following the lifting of the alert state, cleaning and surveillance actions would actively continue in the coming weeks. The decision is motivated by the fact that the Dniester is a dynamic ecosystem with fluctuating water levels, which has led to the deposition of polluting substances on the riverbanks and in riparian vegetation.

The action plan for the immediate period ahead includes: daily monitoring of the affected sector, in order to identify any new pollution patches; maintaining and replacing the 22 dams installed to limit the spread of pollutants; using absorbent materials to capture remaining residues in the water; strict monitoring of water intake stations, in order to guarantee consumers’ safety and collecting water samples twice a week for detailed laboratory analyses.

“Interventions will continue until the complete removal of any visible traces of pollution. Since the water level fluctuates, substances deposited on the banks may later return to the river, which is why monitoring remains a priority,” said the environment minister.

In parallel with decontamination efforts, the Environment Ministry reminds the population that, as of today, April 1, the fishing ban period has come into force. The restriction, which will last until June 15, is essential to allow fish stocks to recover and to protect biodiversity during the breeding period, especially in the context of the recent ecological stress suffered by the Dniester ecosystem.

Environmental authorities call for responsible behavior on behalf of citizens and assure that all subordinate institutions will remain on high alert until the Dniester River is declared completely clean and safe.

The alert state on the Dniester was established on March 16, 2026, after the river had been affected by contamination with a petroleum substance following an attack on a hydropower plant in Ukraine by Russian forces on March 7. The pollutant was discharged into the watercourse and started moving towards the territory of Moldova, endangering aquatic ecosystems and water sources for riparian communities.