Water deficit in Dniester persists

The Republic of Moldova will face a water deficit in the Dniester River for at least another three weeks, but the population’s water supply is not at risk, Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder said on Wednesday after a visit to the Novodnestrovsk reservoir in Ukraine.

"There will be water, but in much smaller quantities. Today we are consuming from the lake’s reserves and we must be cautious so that we can ensure water supply for residents for as long as possible," Gheorghe Hajder said today, before the Government meeting.

The minister explained that at present an average of about 30 cubic meters of water per second flows into the reservoir, while the discharge towards the Dniester is about 85 cubic meters per second. According to him, the authorities hope that rainfall in the Carpathian area will help restore the flow so that it reaches at least 100 cubic meters per second.

Gheorghe Hajder specified that there is a major water deficit in the reservoir, with the level being about four meters lower than in the same period last year. In the context of the summer season and the high risk of drought, the official called for the rational use of water.

"We must be rational in our water consumption and ensure the sustainability of this resource for as long as possible," the minister underlined.

On 28 July, the Republic of Moldova declared a hydrological alert for a period of 30 days, after a significant reduction in water resources in the Dniester basin. Following a visit to the Novodnestrovsk reservoir, the Environment Minister announced that the water level had dropped to 112.9 meters, more than four meters below the level recorded in the same period last year. The authorities are constantly monitoring the evolution of the situation and are urging the population to save water.