Dam safety in Moldova monitored with high-performance georadar donated by development partners

The National Administration "Apele Moldovei" will be able to inspect the state of dams and prevent the risk of flooding with a high-performance georadar system, procured with the support of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), Sweden and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Moldova.

The georadar will be used to assess the safety of dams in five pilot areas (Copăceanca, Soloneț, Bahu, Ialgug and Lăpușna), as well as other hydro-technical structures under the management of the National Administration "Apele Moldovei". The georadar allows non-invasive underground investigations by transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves.

The new system provides detailed images of subsurface layers, contributing to fast and accurate interventions and increasing safety in areas vulnerable to floods and extreme events. The implementation of the system will also reduce inspection costs and increase the efficiency of the monitoring activities carried out by the National Administration "Apele Moldovei".

“For us, this equipment means, first, that floods will no longer take us by surprise and that dams and dikes will remain safe in extreme events. Secondly, the georadar system gives us a new perspective on how we can monitor and protect water infrastructure. Thanks to this support, from now on we will be able to intervene faster and more efficiently in water infrastructure management," said Radu Cazacu, deputy director of the National Administration "Apele Moldovei".

To effectively use the equipment in the field and to analyze the collected data, on 20 May 2025 the employees of the institution participated in a theoretical and practical training session.

The investment, amounting to US$30,000, is covered by Austria and Sweden through UNDP Moldova.

In addition to the purchase of the georadar, with funds from the Austrian Development Agency, in 5 pilot areas, for the first time for the Republic of Moldova, an early warning and flood forecasting system will be implemented at sub-watershed level, including five meteorological and five hydrological stations. At the same time, local public authorities will be assisted in the development of participatory watershed management plans for flood risk mitigation.

Sweden will enable the procurement of water level monitoring stations, equipment for recording infringements related to the Nistru River such as drones, night vision cameras, portable radio transmitters, etc. totaling over $200,000.