The Saharna waterfall, a famous tourist attraction in Rezina district especially popular among pilgrims visiting the monastery nearby, has dried up amid the scorching temperatures registered lately and potential foul play. Meanwhile, the Țipova waterfall in the same district has also dwindled to a trickle, Europa Liberă reported.
Victor Macrii, mayor of Saharna Nouă commune, says that while it’s not uncommon for the small river of Saharna to experience declines during hot summers, this is the first time in his three terms that the famous waterfall has come to almost a complete stop.
Environment inspectors had to check whether any unauthorized diking and irrigation activity was at play, “but no, the ongoing drought seems to be the main culprit”, the mayor said.
However, Europa Liberă’s reporters could spot water being pumped out of Saharna near the village of Echimăuți, despite the Environment Agency not issuing any authorization for such use in the last six years.
Throughout is summer, the State Hydrometeorological Service has kept code-red and code-orange water scarcity alerts in place for the main inland rivers. Due to the drought, both underground water and springs that feed the rivers are dwindling, explains Alexandru Cojocari, department head and the Water Agency. However, the specialist is confident that the rivers and waterfalls will be back to their normal outputs as soon as rains resume.
