The pollution level of the rivers Nistru and Prut increased significantly in recent times, especially after the severe floods of 2010. The results of the 2011 complex ecological expedition show that the water contains a high level of salts, organic pollutants and oil products, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The water is of a poorer quality mainly near towns. A large part of our towns do not have water treatment stations, while most of the existing stations are old,” Minister of the Environment Gheorghe Salaru told a news conference. When there are no filters, the residual substances get into rivers. According to specialists, the lower reaches of the Nistru, from Vadul lui Voda until Palanca, are much more polluted than the upper reaches. The closer we are to the river’s source, the dirtier is the water. The branches convey residual water from large cities, including the municipality of Chisinau, through which the Byk that is considered the most polluted river in the country goes, and the municipality of Balti, which influences the quality of water in the Raut. Botna is another dirty rivulet that flows into the Nistru, said the minister. As to the Prut, there were identified considerable amounts of oil products near the villages Sireuti and Braniste. A high level of nitrites was recorded downstream near Leova town. The dung and waste dumps also pollute the water. Gheorghe Salaru said there are over 200 waste dumps in 108 settlements situated in southern Moldova. Most of them are located on hills or near precipices. The rain washes the waste away, taking it into the rivers, from where the farmers take water for irrigation. As a result, the noxious substances enter our bodies. The fish in the rivers is also affected. The volume of fish decreases every year. The number of species declined. But the situation may be changed if measures are taken to stop pollution. Among the first steps that should be taken are to construct water treatment stations, principally in industrial areas, and to reconstruct the existing stations, said the minister. The Ministry of the Environment aims to work out a waste management strategy that will be presented to the local public authorities. One of the priorities is to significantly reduce the number of waste dumps. The ecological expedition on the Nistru and Prut within Moldova lasted from May through June.