Moldova's water crisis: Contaminated wells & drying rivers
Drinking water from dug wells in the Republic of Moldova is largely substandard, the country's river networks are suffering from prolonged drought, and the Dniester River, its main aquatic artery, is affected by pollution and a drastic decrease in flow.
These alarming findings come from public health and ecology experts, who are urging authorities to rethink environmental policies.
There are approximately 47,000 such wells in the Republic of Moldova, but their water is, in many cases, unsafe for consumption. According to data from the National Agency for Public Health (ANSP), over half of the samples analyzed in recent years were microbiologically and chemically non-compliant.
"Firstly, the mandated 50-meter protection zone around these types of sources is not being respected. No environmentally polluting facility, such as dumps, latrines, garbage heaps, outhouses, or stables, should be located within this perimeter. Sometimes, water contamination in wells is also caused by the widespread use of fertilizers ten years ago," stated Liliana Carp, an ANSP representative, on the "Zi de zi" show on Radio Moldova.
The most polluted water is found in the Leova, Ocnița, Soroca, Drochia, Cimișlia, and Comrat districts. Specialists recommend cleaning and disinfecting wells twice a year, observing sanitary standards around them, and periodically checking water quality by local authorities.
At the same time, the state of the country's hydrographic network is, in some places, alarming. The President of the "Eco-Tiras" Association, Ilia Trombițchi, warns that many rivers in the country have dried up, and groundwater reserves are drastically reduced. Among the main causes are the lack of afforestation and the decreasing flow of large rivers.
"The water flow from the Dnestrovsc reservoir in Ukraine is very low, 100 cubic meters per second. Land use must be re-evaluated to prioritize afforestation. That's the only method to improve the hydrological situation," emphasized Trombițchi, adding that citizens can also contribute to water conservation and local greening efforts.
The President of the "Eco-Tiras" Association also stated that the country's most important aquatic artery, the Dniester River, which supplies drinking water to citizens in Ukraine as well, "is plagued by problems."
"The river is under constant and combined pressure from agricultural, urban, and industrial pollution, amplified by climate change. For these reasons, the ecosystem is suffering," he revealed on the "Zi de zi" show on Radio Moldova.
According to Elena Zubcova, Doctor Habilitated in Biological Sciences, agricultural, urban, and industrial pollution, as well as the impact of hydropower plants and climate change, endanger the Dniester.
"In the last 20 years, the river's functionality as an ecosystem has been changing. In the last two years, we've been receiving no more than 100 cubic meters per second. In the Dniester, a grayish, black silt has also appeared, a symptom of sandy silts being replaced by silts formed in the ecosystem from wastewater," warns Zubcov.
She emphasizes that the Dniester is a living organism, not just a water resource, and that its sustainable management is essential not only for the Republic of Moldova but also for Ukraine.
Currently, 90% of the urban population is supplied with water from public networks, but over 30% of rural households still depend on dug wells, which amplifies health risks in the absence of safe sources.
Experts emphasize that, beyond national policies, each of us has an essential role in maintaining a healthy environment — through the judicious use of water and other natural resources.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
