Safer water for Chișinău, Strășeni and Călărași: €23.6M project launched at Vadul lui Vodă
Nearly 900,000 residents in the districts of Straseni, Calarasi, and Chisinau will benefit from upgraded water infrastructure under the Open Urban Development Program in Moldova, launched on April 23. The total investment for this project is €23.6 million.
The largest portion of the funding, amounting to 14 million euros, is a grant provided by Germany. This financial effort is supplemented by a contribution from the Government of the Republic of Moldova, totaling 7.6 million euros, along with an allocation of 2 million euros from the Chisinau municipality.
Five agreements signed in Vadul lui Vodă
The project involves several significant works, including the construction of a new water intake station on the Nistru, a pumping station with high-voltage electricity supply, and the connection of two towns and two villages in the Strășeni and Călărași districts to a safe drinking water source.
The Regional Development Agency (ADR) Centru will implement the project, with substantial financial support from the German Federal Government through the German Development Bank (KfW). This initiative will be carried out in close collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Moldova.
On April 23, five agreements were signed at the water intake station on the Nistru in Vadul lui Vodă, Chisinau municipality, in support of this initiative.
One of the agreements is a financing arrangement worth 13 million euros, designated for investments in physical infrastructure. It outlines the general framework for providing the grant and was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vera Vitkin, and Ion Pînzari, Director of ADR Centru.
Another financing agreement, worth 1 million euros, pertains to the investment measures component and was signed by the same institutional partners. A third document addresses the financial contribution of the Chisinau municipality, signed by Mayor Ion Ceban and Ion Pînzari. The remaining agreements relate to the project's implementation, collaboration mechanisms among partners, and the specific responsibilities for carrying it out.
Development of the water catchment station to supply Chisinau
“The successful implementation of these projects can only be achieved through responsible, efficient, and ongoing cooperation among all institutions involved. It is essential to have a clear action plan, effective mechanisms, and close coordination,” stated Irina Morari, manager of the German-Funded External Projects Implementation Unit within the ADR Centru.
According to Morari, a new collaboration agreement is in the works that will involve all national parties: the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Chisinau City Hall, and the city halls of Călărași and Strășeni, along with the water operators in these localities.
A supervisory committee will also be established to provide a platform for communication, monitoring, and addressing any issues that may arise during the project’s implementation. The authorities aim to develop regulations and hold the first official meeting within the next two months.
One of the Republic of Moldova's major challenges is the quality of drinking water, as highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea at the event.
"According to the Development Strategy, we are working on modernizing the water supply infrastructure sourced from surface water, particularly from the Nistru and the Prut rivers. This includes the construction of water collection stations, transport mains, and the eventual connection of localities to these networks. Today's project is crucial, especially for enhancing the capacity of the water collection station that supplies the Chișinău municipality. This infrastructure will serve approximately 800,000 consumers, with an additional 75,000 people set to be connected to the main that will become operational in 2026," stated Vladimir Bolea.
The general mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, welcomed the initiative, highlighting the strategic importance of investing in water infrastructure for the health and safety of the population.
"Water is an essential necessity, whether it concerns household consumption, medical institutions, schools, or kindergartens. The quality of water must be ensured in every home. I am pleased that this project, one of the most important for the Republic of Moldova, addresses this fundamental need," stated Ion Ceban.
The "Open Urban Development Program in Moldova" is being implemented alongside the "Improvement of Water Infrastructure in Central Moldova" initiative, both of which contribute to the modernization of the water infrastructure in the Republic of Moldova.
