Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder warned on Friday that Chisinau could face a water supply crisis if the Dniester River continues to decline due to prolonged drought and reduced inflows into the Novodnistrovsk reservoir.
According to Hajder, the reservoir is currently receiving around 30 cubic meters of water per second, while approximately 100 cubic meters per second are being released into the Dniester River. He said the lack of rainfall has pushed the reservoir’s water level to a historic low, a situation that has been officially confirmed by the Ukrainian side. A bilateral meeting on the issue is expected to take place shortly.
“There is a real risk that water releases into the Dniester will soon be reduced, which would cause the river level to fall even further. This would be extremely harmful for the environment and biodiversity, but the risks do not end there. If the Dniester drops significantly, residents of Chisinau and several surrounding suburbs could be left without water,” Hajder said.
The minister recalled that in March he had asked all municipalities supplied by the Dniester River, including Chisinau, to provide information on the condition of artesian wells and other alternative water sources that could be used in an emergency.
According to Hajder, Chisinau City Hall has not yet responded to that request, leaving authorities without clear information on whether the capital has an alternative water supply that could be connected if needed.
He criticized Mayor Ion Ceban, saying the mayor had focused on “political shows” instead of providing the requested information.
“I once again call on Mayor Ceban to publicly inform the residents of Chisinau about the condition of the city’s artesian wells and other alternative water sources in case the main supply from the Dniester becomes unavailable due to pollution, drought, or any other reason. Chisinau cannot rely on a single source of water, and we cannot afford to even theoretically discuss the possibility of a humanitarian disaster,” Hajder said.