Moldova deploys high-capacity pumps to secure Chișinău water supply
Moldovan authorities have installed a high-capacity 1,200 m³/h water pump at the Vadul lui Vodă intake station, with four additional units scheduled for delivery in the coming days. The emergency deployment aims to safeguard Chișinău's municipal water supply as a severe drought drastically reduces water levels in the Dniester River and the upstream Novodnistrovsk Reservoir.
The intervention follows a formal request for assistance from the Chișinău City Hall to reinforce the municipal intake facility. Government officials confirmed that the equipment was released directly from the State Material Reserves Agency.
Government and municipal cooperation
Prime Minister Vasile Tofan emphasized that ensuring drinking water supplies must transcend political debate. He urged all state and municipal bodies to coordinate closely to manage potential supply disruptions along the Dniester.
Simultaneously, municipal authorities in Chișinău announced emergency contingency plans to handle potential shortages. The city has mapped out 213 strategic distribution points across the capital, including 75 public spaces, 108 kindergartens, and 30 medical facilities.
Logistical reserves and alternative sources
To support mobile water distribution, the municipality has mobilized 253 bulk storage tanks, 20 mobile cisterns, and 45 specialized transport vehicles.
Beyond the primary Dniester intake, Chișinău can leverage 26 operational deep-water wells capable of providing approximately 32,000 m³ per day. Additionally, non-potable water reserves from the Chișinău Mine can supply up to 5,000 m³ daily for technical and household needs.
Regional hydrological monitoring
The hydrological crisis is being monitored jointly by Moldovan and Ukrainian authorities. Following a meeting of the Joint Dniester Commission on July 31, both nations agreed to temporarily adjust discharge rates from the Novodnistrovsk Reservoir from 100 to 85 m³ per second for a two-week period.
Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder confirmed ongoing technical evaluations at the Vadul lui Vodă intake to ensure continued operation even under lower river levels. Moldova remains under a 30-day national hydrological alert instituted on July 28.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
