Romania’s legislation on water can be applied in Moldova too

The Romanian normative and legislative framework for water and sewerage can be successfully applied in Moldova too. This is one of the conclusions reached by a Moldovan delegation that attended a workshop themed “Experience exchange between Romania and Moldova on organization of water and sewerage sector and services”, Info-Prim Neo reports, quoting a communiqué from the press center of Moldova Apa-Canal Association. The adjustment of the Romanian legislation to the conditions in Moldova will enable to regionalize the water and sewerage services in a relatively short period of time. The most important thing for the water suppliers is to obtain more grants and loans for rehabilitating and developing the given services. Another conclusion is that the process of determining and approving the water and sewerage charges in Moldova is very much politicized. The local public authorities do not approve the charges in time, the companies cannot fully cover the costs and, as a result, they suffer huge losses. The situation in Romania is different. The charges are adjusted without the involvement of political factors and the water suppliers are able to completely cover their costs and can benefit from grants and loans. The water supply and sewerage services in Romania are fully regulated by the National Agency for the Regulation of Public Utilities. Moldova also needs such an agency as the National Energy Regulatory Agency does not deal with all the technical aspects in the water sector, says the press center of Moldova Apa-Canal Association The charges on the water and sewerage services provided by regional companies in Romania are approved by inter-communitarian development associations, while the charges for the other operators are approved by the local councils and endorsed by the National Agency for the Regulation of Public Utilities. The regionalization of services in Romania took place according to the territorial principle (counties), though some of the regional companies already extended their services to settlements on other counties, as S.C. Apavital Iasi and S.C. Raja Constanta. It would be opportune to create 4-5 regional companies in Moldova – North, Center, South, and Transnistria, consider experts. The workshop was held in the municipality of Iasi on May 28-29. The Moldovan delegation included specialists of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction, the Ministry of Health, Moldova Apa-Canal Association, the National Energy Regulatory Agency, municipal water supply and sewerage companies based in Criuleni, Rezina, Riscani, Briceni, Basarabeasca, and Taraclia, and representatives of local authorities. The event was organized by the Ministry of the Environment, with support from the company EPTISA that provides consultancy within the project “Technical Assistance for Implementing the Sector Policy Support Program in the Water Industry of Moldova”.