Hydrological situation on Dniester, Prut stays worrying; water levels in Novodnestrovsk, Stanca-Costesti reservoirs continue to drop

The hydrological situation on the Dniester and Prut rivers stays complicated, as the main upstream reservoirs are receiving less water than is being discharged. Data for the period as of August 28 till September 3 shows a further decline in water levels in the Novodnestrovsk and Stanca-Costesti reservoirs.

According to Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder, the average inflow into Ukraine's Novodnestrovsk reservoir was only 33 m³/s, while discharges were maintained at 60 m³/s, in accordance with the decision of the Dniester Commission.

“Under these conditions, the water level in the reservoir fell by another 25 centimeters, reaching an elevation of 111.72 meters, which is considered critical. The main cause identified is the lack of precipitation in the upper part of the Dniester River basin. A similar situation is recorded on the Prut River. In the Stanca-Costesti reservoir, the average inflow was only 14 m³/s, while discharges reached 26 m³/s. As a result, the water level dropped by 28 centimeters, to an elevation of 83.38 meters,” Hajder explained.

The environment minister reiterated his call to the public and consumers to use water rationally and responsibly until the short- and medium-term hydrological risks have passed.

Authorities have also announced more measures to reduce pressure on water resources. They include identifying and demolishing illegal dams and structures that obstruct waterways, cleaning and dredging the beds of internal rivers, strengthening the hydro-technical infrastructure of reservoirs of national importance and updating data on alternative surface and groundwater sources.

In late last August, the government extended the state of alert in the energy and hydrological sectors by 30 days. The measure is necessary, in order to continue managing risks in the energy sector and the effects of the hydrological drought.