VIDEO // Pollution crisis on Dniester: Cosauti water intake station protected with absorbent barriers

The water intake station from the Cosauti village, which supplies water to Soroca district, Soldanesti district, the municipality of Balti, and more localities in Floresti  district, has been secured with an absorbent barrier, in order to prevent pollutants from entering the water supply system.

Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder has said that intervention teams were continuously monitoring the situation and were applying measures to isolate the source of pollution in the area where water is captured from the river.

At the same time, specialized absorbent material is periodically spread in the area, a procedure meant to retain and neutralize the pollutant on the water surface.

He noted that all relevant authorities continued to monitor the evolution of the situation and to apply the necessary measures, in order to limit the impact on the environment and to protect the water supply systems of the settlements.

Continuous interventions to limit pollution

The minister specified that intervention teams were working without interruption, in order to monitor how the situation develops and to prevent the spread of pollution along the river course.

Cooperation with Romania in managing the situation

Romania is increasing its support for managing the pollution of the Dniester River: 4,000 kg of absorbent material and 800 m of barrier have been brought to Moldova.

The intervention is being carried out in cooperation with specialists from Romania, who are involved in installing the equipment and managing operations to capture oil substances.

Prime Minister requested activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism

Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu says that the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been requested, in the context of the situation on the Dniester.

Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu on March 13 requested the activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

“Through this mechanism, we are requesting support on behalf of our European partners for the quick mobilization of specialists’ teams and the equipment needed to manage the situation on the ground. This refers to equipment for capturing, retaining and collecting oil impurities from the water, as well as mobile stations for testing water quality. This support is necessary, in order to strengthen the intervention capacity of the responsible institutions – the Environment Ministry, through the Environment Agency and Apele Moldovei (Moldova’s Waters), the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations and the National Agency for Public Health – which are involved in monitoring and managing the situation,” the prime minister said.