The low quality of the drinking water in Moldova leads to an increased in the number of diseases, especially in villages, the National Public Health Center has said. According to the last research carried out by the institution, faucet or running water is cleaner than the water in wells and is safer to drink.

Studies show that 84% of the wells in the country do not meet the sanitary norms. The northern and southern districts are the most affected. Dumitru Selitanu, head of the National Public Health Center’s Environment Section, has told IPN that the water in Chisinau meets all the indicators because it is treated at the Wastewater Treatment Station.

According to the specialist, the drinking water in wells in the northern districts of Falesti, Ungheni and Soroca has a surplus of fluor, while in the southern part the concentration of sulfurate hydrogen is higher.

In 2010, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expressed its concern about the fact that only half of Moldova’s population has access to drinking water and sewerage systems, while in the rural areas this figure stands at 26.7%.

The ombudspersons approve of the adoption by Parliament of the Water Law, which will take effect on October 26. They stressed the necessity of passing the normative documents needed to implement his law.

March 22 was declared the World Water Day. This year’s theme of the day is: “Water and international cooperation”. The UN declared 2013 as the International Year of Cooperation in Waters.