Novodnestrovsk Reservoir level falls to 111.5 meters

The Republic of Moldova continues to face an acute water shortage, as the level of Novodnestrovsk Reservoir in Ukraine has fallen to 111.5 meters, while water inflow into the reservoir remains very low. Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder said after today’s Government meeting that Chișinău authorities are in constant discussions with the Ukrainian side to maintain a minimum flow on the Dniester River, in order to protect the population’s water supply and agricultural needs.

According to the minister, in recent days the water inflow into the reservoir has been far below the required level.


“The inflow into the Novodnestrovsk Reservoir remains low. Yesterday, the inflow was only 16 cubic meters per second, while releases remain at 60 cubic meters per second, in accordance with the previous agreement with the Ukrainian side. For this reason, we are witnessing an acute water shortage in the reservoir. We have already reached a level of 111.5 meters, which is far below the normal level of the reservoir,” Gheorghe Hajder said.


The minister said the situation is all the more concerning because the duration of the drought cannot be predicted, nor can it be determined when precipitation might contribute to replenishing water reserves.


“Given that we may face prolonged droughts, and no one can tell us how long they could last, we must act rationally and conserve water for as long as possible. That is why these decisions are also being made together with the Ukrainian side. On the one hand, we need to limit the water flow in order to preserve the water reserves in the reservoir, while on the other hand, we must not create major risks for the water supply of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova,” the minister explained.


Hajder stressed that maintaining a sufficient flow on the Dniester is essential for the Republic of Moldova, but the authorities must avoid the rapid depletion of reserves in the Ukrainian reservoir.


“We are facing an acute water shortage, but through discussions with the Ukrainian side we are ensuring the minimum necessary flow on the Dniester River, so as not to jeopardize the water supply of Chișinău and agriculture. However, we appeal to all citizens to use water rationally during this period,” Gheorghe Hajder said.


The minister warned that a prolonged period without precipitation could force the authorities to further reduce the water flow released into the Dniester.


“We are almost 10 meters below the normal level of the Novodnestrovsk Reservoir. Considering that the reservoir covers more than 100 square kilometers, we are talking about millions, perhaps even billions, of cubic meters of water missing under these circumstances. If we knew exactly when precipitation might occur and replenish the reservoir, we would probably maintain a higher flow on the Dniester. Now, I do not want us to find ourselves in a situation where the drought continues and the reserves reach a minimum,” the official said.


According to Hajder, one of the greatest risks is that the flow of the Dniester could effectively become determined solely by the amount of water entering the reservoir.


“At some point, the flow on the Dniester could become equal to the inflow entering the reservoir. At present, the average is 20–23, sometimes 30 cubic meters per second. I mentioned that it was also 16. I do not want us to have a flow of 16 cubic meters per second on the Dniester. That would be three times lower than what we have today,” the minister explained.


Hajder said that under normal conditions, the flow of the Dniester should be at least 100 cubic meters per second, while the ideal level would be even higher.


“Normally, we should have a minimum flow of 100 cubic meters per second on the Dniester. Ideally, however, it should be 200 or even more,” the Environment Minister said.


The authorities will continue to monitor the hydrological situation and hold further discussions with the Ukrainian side. According to the minister, another meeting of the Dniester Commission may be necessary in the coming days to assess the situation in the upper part of the Dniester River basin.


“A new meeting was proposed for the 11th, but even if the Dniester Commission meeting is not held on that date, another discussion on this issue will certainly be necessary in the coming days. We will analyze the hydrological situation in the upper part of the Dniester River basin. I certainly hope that we will once again make the best decisions to ensure the stability of the entire region’s water supply,” Hajder said.


The minister explained that declaring a state of alert in the sector is specifically intended to allow the authorities to respond quickly if the situation worsens.


“The state of alert is intended to prevent problems and enable us to take the necessary measures much more quickly than under normal conditions. And if the situation worsens, it will allow us to intervene more rapidly,” Hajder concluded.