A number of 108 artesian wells managed by the public utility S.A. “Apa-Canal Chisinau” do not meet the norms and should be liquidated. The process is difficult and implies large amounts of money. Doctor of Chemical Sciences Ion Cascaval said the costs are estimates at about 5 million lei, IPN reports.

The Ministry of the Environment initiated the procedure for liquidating the inappropriate wells with the financial assistance of the Government of Romania. To launch this project, in May the State Ecological Inspectorate asked for the list of artesian wells managed by the company and for information about their technical state as a matter of urgency.

According to Ion Cascaval, the company now manages 138 artesian wells, only 25 of which are functional, while five are in reserve. Coordination and assessment works are carried out in a move to modernize the artesian wells, which are necessary for supplying the inhabitants and business entities with drinking water as an alternative source of water. In some areas, these are the main source for water supply.