Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban has called a meeting with the city’s manufacturers to warn them of potential cuts in water supply and sewer services, which could in turn spiral into “an emergency situation with major risks for our country’s economic security”.

This comes after Apa-Canal, Chisinau’s water utility, was slapped with a 12 million lei fine for exceeding pollutant limits in the wastewater. On multiple occasions earlier, the utility blamed manufacturers for not treating their discharge adequately, if at all.

“In my opinion, these risks and actions to be taken can be discussed in a coordinated manner so that solutions can be identified. I really hope this is not a case of the central government trying to prove something to the local authorities. I don’t want to think that someone would try to push Apa-Canal Chisinau into bankruptcy”, declared Ceban.

“Many in my team are of the opinion that we have to cut you off the water supply starting next Monday. You know that the pollutants are your fault, we know it, the Government knows it. The provisions that take effect on January 1 leaves us no room for maneuver. They force us to do that. Let me repeat myself, there is a great risk for the entire economic system. I don’t know if anyone in the Government has thought of this in such terms and I really don’t  think that anyone wants to leave the city and other communities without bread, milk or other products”, stated Ion Ceban.

Attending the meeting, environment chief inspector Ion Bulmaga said the problem is complex and is not limited to Chisinau. The Inspectorate for Environment Protection is willing to find solutions, he added.