Municipal authorities look for solutions to reconstruct water treatment station in Chisinau

The problem of the reconstruction of the wastewater treatment station in Chisinau needs urgent solutions, representatives of the municipal administration and of Apa-Canal Chisinau (ACC) SA consider, Info-Prim Neo reports. At the last meeting of the Chisinau City Hall, Mayor General Dorin Chirtoaca raised the issue of the wastewater treatment station. He said that the station can be reconstructed by several ways. There is no immediate solution at present, but in the future the tariffs could be reviewed so that the costs of supplying drinking water and treating wastewater are covered. Another solution is to concede and get money to finance at least 25% of the costs of reconstructing the station. They can also apply for a credit or for non-reimbursable projects to get sources of financing. Another proposal submitted by the mayor was to issue security bonds by which all the Chisinau residents could invest in the reconstruction of the station that is of vital importance to the municipality. Mihai Golban, the director for customer relations of Apa-Canal Chisinau SA, said nothing had been implemented because of lack of money. He welcomed Dorin Chirtoaca’s proposals and said that one of them should be put into practice in the near future. According to Golban, the method of issuing bonds could be a proper solution because it would avoid taking loans with interests. This will enable to avoid taking credits that must be repaid. Yet, according to Mihai Golban, the optimum way of solving the problem is to immediately approve an investment-mirroring tariff. “If the local authorities and the water supplier wait for the summer period when the temperatures are high, the people will continue to file the same complaints about the smell going out of the station,” Mihai Golban said. The quickest solution to the problem would be to approve an investment-mirroring tariff that would enable to start construction works on the station. Mihai Golban said that the calculations for the investment tariffs are now being examined by the municipal services. He also said that the treatment of the mud platforms for eliminating the unpleasant smell in the region would be a temporary solution. He stressed that a new treatment stations is badly needed. “This is one of the most complicated problems that need large resources. But the municipal authorities do not have the necessary money and would not have in the near future,” Dorin Chirtoaca said.