The mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, has announced that he will request the direct involvement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the issue of water supply to the Republic of Moldova. The mayor stated that he will send a letter to the presidential administration in Kyiv, given the risks that a potential water crisis could pose to the population and institutions in the capital, according to IPN.

Ion Ceban noted that Chisinau is home to social, medical, and strategic institutions, and that an interruption in the water supply could have major consequences. The mayor expressed his hope that the Ukrainian authorities will find solutions to prevent a crisis.

The statements were made on Wednesday following a meeting of the Chisinau Municipal Commission for Exceptional Situations, which was convened to assess the measures needed in light of a potential water supply crisis. During the meeting, a set of actions was approved to prevent risks arising from the decrease in the flow of the Dniester River.

Apa-Canal Chisinau has been tasked with continuously monitoring the water flow at the intake source, as well as the operation of the intake, pumping, transmission, and treatment facilities, in order to prevent any disruptions to the water supply. The Chisinau City Hall and the operator will request official information from central public authorities regarding the hydrological regime of the Dniester River, including data on water discharge volumes, any changes to the discharge regime, and forecasts for the coming period.

According to Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder, the Ukrainian side has reported a decrease in the water volume in the Novodnestrovsk reservoir, which regulates the flow of the Dniester River. The minister maintains that the water will not disappear, but that drawing it may become more difficult due to the river’s low water level. Gheorghe Hajder states that, according to information provided by Apa-Canal Chisinau, the company does not have sufficient reliable alternative sources to ensure the capital’s water supply in the event of a prolonged interruption in water intake from the Dniester or severe pollution.