Environment Minister on Dniester situation: Water reserves three times lower than discharges, situation worsened

Dniester hydrological situation has worsened, with water reserves currently three times lower than the discharges from the reservoir, Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder said following today’s Government meeting. According to the official, the authorities are preparing additional measures to ensure the population’s water supply if the situation deteriorates.


“Today water reserves are three times lower than the discharges from the reservoir, which means that the situation has worsened, while the state of emergency provides us with the tools to intervene if necessary, given that the risks have increased,” said Gheorghe Hajder.


The minister noted that the authorities’ main priority is maintaining the population’s water supply, including ensuring the operation of the two strategic stations that provide water to localities in northern and central Moldova.


“Our priority is to ensure the citizens’ water supply and to keep the two strategic stations that supply northern and central Moldova operational. If additional action is needed, we must have all the tools required to intervene,” Hajder said.


According to the minister, the authorities are monitoring water levels and reserves and are prepared to intervene rapidly if the situation becomes more critical.


“It is important to understand that we must monitor developments and the situation on the ground. If there is a risk that discharges will decrease, the water level will drop, and we must assess the situation. If additional measures are needed to capture water from lower levels, we must have those tools and intervene very quickly. It is important to continue supplying water,” the minister explained.


Possible measures under consideration include the temporary restriction of certain non-essential or non-priority water uses until the situation stabilizes.


“It is now certain that other actions may also be necessary, such as limiting water use for non-essential activities or activities that are not a priority at this stage, until the situation stabilizes. These are measures that could be needed if the situation worsens,” Hajder said.


The minister mentioned that, depending on how the situation develops, it may be necessary to purchase additional equipment and materials, as well as involve specialized companies.


“This includes securing new equipment, if necessary, purchasing additional materials, and involving companies with expertise, if required, because we need to be ready to intervene within a very short time. We know very well that when there is no water, it is a serious problem that cannot wait for all the bureaucratic procedures normally in place,” he said.


Hajder explained that the transition from a state of alert to a broader intervention regime is determined by the development of the hydrological situation. The state of alert was established during the summer, but the rainfall expected in autumn has been delayed, and water reserves have continued to decline.


“I want us to understand that the state of alert was necessary throughout the summer, given that we are now in the autumn period, when rainfall is normally heavier. We are in autumn, and we can see that this precipitation has been delayed. This means that the situation has worsened in the meantime because reserves have declined. Therefore, we are moving to a new stage so that we have the necessary tools in case they are needed,” Gheorghe Hajder said.


Regarding Ukraine’s requests for a further reduction in discharges, the minister said that reducing the flow is inevitable, but the authorities must ensure that this does not affect the population’s water supply.


“A drop in the flow is inevitable. It is now important to ensure that this restriction does not affect people’s water supply, and that is the Government’s primary objective. We must take water reserves into account and ensure that, if precipitation is delayed over the coming months, we do not nevertheless run out of water,” Hajder stated.


The minister added that the measures taken by the authorities so far have made it possible to maintain some reserves, even though they are at a minimum level.


“All the actions taken by the Government have at least ensured that we still have some reserves, even if they are minimal. Had no intervention taken place, we could already have reached a very low flow rate that would have caused problems,” Gheorghe Hajder said.


The Government will propose that Parliament declare a state of emergency in the energy and hydrological sectors nationwide for a period of 60 days, starting on September 26. The measure is preventive and is necessary so that the authorities can intervene rapidly in the event of disruptions to the supply of energy, fuel, and water, amid regional risks and the severe hydrological deficit.