VIDEO // Moldovan acting environment minister says backup water supply system for Chisinau in degraded condition

Moldova and Ukraine have agreed to maintain, until July 31, a discharge flow of 100 m³/s from the Novodnestrovsk reservoir. However, the authorities warn that, in the absence of rainfall, after this date, it may be necessary to reduce the volume of water released into the Dniester, which might affect the water supply of the Chisinau municipality.

Acting Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder today said in a post that the drought and prolonged lack of precipitation had caused the reservoir level to drop below the minimum threshold. According to him, the inflow into the Novodnestrovsk reservoir is currently about 30 m³/s, while 100 m³/s are being discharged into the Dniester.

The official pointed out that, in addition to the water deficit, increased evaporation and high seasonal consumption in summer contributed to the accelerated reduction of reserves in the reservoir.

“If no rainfall is recorded, due to the insufficient volume of water, discharges into the Dniester could be reduced after July 31. This will lead to a decrease in the Dniester’s level, and the main pumps at the intake station that supplies Chisinau might go out of service,” Hajder warned.

The minister said that he had also inspected the backup system meant for use in case of a critical water level. According to him, the floating pumps, pipelines and storage basin administered by the company “Apă-Canal Chișinău” are in an advanced state of degradation and the functionality of the equipment is uncertain.

“I believe that rehabilitating this strategic infrastructure for the security of the water supply of the entire Chisinau municipality would not cost more than one or two concerts,” the minister said.

The decision to maintain the flow of 100 m³/s was adopted at an extraordinary meeting of the Commission on the Sustainable Use and Protection of the Dniester River Basin on July 17, convened against the backdrop of declining water levels and the risk of a hydrological drought.

During the meeting, the Ukrainian side reported that reduced precipitation in the Ukrainian Carpathians and high temperatures had diminished the water reserves in the Novodnestrovsk reservoir. For this reason, Ukraine proposed reducing the discharge flow to 70 m³/s, in order to conserve water resources.

Representatives of Moldova, however, requested that the current discharge regime be maintained until late July, a request accepted by the Ukrainian side. The two states agreed to reassess the situation at the end of the month, depending on the evolution of hydrological conditions.

The Environment Ministry informed that, together with the “Apele Moldovei” Agency, the Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring Authority and other relevant institutions, it would continue to monitor the situation and develop intervention scenarios depending on changes in the Dniester River’s flow.