A new water supply system has been inaugurated today in Dragusenii Noi village, Hancesti district. The new system will supply water throughout the entire village, including to nearly 400 households, a primary school, and a kindergarten. Part of the Water and Sanitation Programme of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the project was co-financed by Switzerland in partnership with the Austrian Development Cooperation and the mayoralty of the village. According to SDC, The local community contributed with over 2’000 working days to the implementation of the project, including by participating in trench digging, building of sanitary protection zones, constructing individual water connection chambers per each household, and other work. In addition, the local Water Consumers’ Association received from the Dragusenii Noi mayoralty the concession to operate the new water system. The individual water meters installed at the end of each user serve as a base for the establishment of an efficient billing system. The SDC Water and Sanitation Programme, launched in Moldova in 2001, supports the construction and improvement of potable water supply and sanitation systems in rural areas, with the participation of authorities and active involvement of the local population.