An oil stain was noticed on the surface of the Dniester River in the Otaci city area. The competent institutions have been notified, and based on the water samples taken, the source of pollution and its impact on the environment are to be determined. The case was reported by the Soroca City Hall, reports IPN.
Until the situation is clarified, local authorities recommend that the population avoid using water from the Dniester for domestic use, for watering animals, and other activities. If changes in the color of the water, smell of petroleum products, or other signs of pollution in the relevant sector of the locality are observed, people are urged to urgently inform the competent institutions.
The Ministry of Environment specifies that all relevant institutions intervened on the ground from the first hours after the case was reported. The team from the Environmental Agency Laboratory collected water samples from several points downstream, for detailed analyses, so as to establish a clear picture, based on concrete data, about the quality of the water.
At the same time, to clarify the origin and impact of the leaks, specialists from “Apele Moldovei” maintain contact with the Ukrainian side, to whom an official request for information was sent.
The Ministry of Environment assures that the situation is constantly monitored, and additional details will be communicated after obtaining the results of laboratory analyses.
Disclaimer: This journalistic material was prepared by the IPN Press Agency, within the framework of the Small Grants Program for Media “Community Journalism for a Healthy Environment and Green Justice”, carried out within the project “Green Justice for a Protected Environment and Sustainable Communities in the Republic of Moldova”, implemented by the EcoContact AO, with the support of Sweden.