As many as 55 municipalities and towns and 891 rural localities had access to public water supply systems in 2022. This is almost 62% of the country’s localities. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, over 60% of Moldova’s villages had access to drinking water through public systems. In connection with World Water Day that is annually marked on March 22, the National Public Health Agency planned to stage a public event to raise the population’s awareness about the role of water for life and health, IPN reports.

This year’s theme “Water for Peace” draws attention to the fact that water plays a critical role in the stability and and prosperity of the world, being an essential component for sustainable development. “The event highlights the role of cross-border cooperation to address the global crisis of the 2.2 billion people living today without access to drinking water. Cooperation must be inclusive, intersectoral and action-oriented to protect ecosystems and human health, especially in crisis situations, such as drought, floods or industrial pollution,” said the Agency.

As part of the public awareness-raising event, specialists will provide information about the role of water for health, prevention of waterborne diseases and the importance of access to safe drinking water for well-being and decent living conditions, measures to protect water sources, etc.

The Agency’s laboratory specialists will demonstrate some simple tests with water samples, such as determination of electrical conductivity with the total level of water mineralization, pH, turbidity, level of residual chlorine in water, etc. Such events will take place simultaneously in Edineț and Soroca.

“Through this event, we aim to increase the level of public information about the importance and quality of drinking water, the need to have access to safely managed water supply and sanitation systems and the quality of consumed water,” the institution noted.

According to the National Public Health Agency, the total length of aqueducts and public water distribution networks in 2022 was 19,000 kilometers and, compared to the previous year, expanded by 15.9% or 245.8 kilometers of newly built networks. Of the total length, 18,500 kilometers belong to systems put into operation, while 500 kilometers - to systems that are not put into operation, but serve the population.