Despite taking effect in 2013, the Water Resources Law that mandates the construction of wastewater treatment facilities and sewer systems in all the towns that have water supply networks is not fully implemented. For many years, the practice has been for the government to only allocate money for the latter and not the former systems, and this practice has environmental costs, stated Ina Coșeru, president of the National Environment Center NGO, during a press conference on the margins of a round-table event organized by ACUM lawmakers and civil society representatives.
“We have failed at this, because especially since 2009 no money has been allocated to build sewers for communities that got a water supply system”, said Ina Coșeru, adding she hoped the Government would make it a priority and identify the necessary resources.
According to Coșeru, enterprises that discharge directly into waterways are required by law to have wastewater treatment facilities, and those which discharge into the public sewer system must build facilities that pre-treat the wastewater.
Environment activists also call on the authorities to restore the Ministry of Environment in the future government to oversee the implementation of over 60 environment issues included in the Association Agreement with the EU. Moreover, the Government is urged not to sign the accord on the common use of the Nistru River resources before an environmental impact study is completed in September.
MP Vladimir Bolea said that during six years of its existence the 2013 Law hasn’t produced any significant effects in the field of water resource management, as these resources undergo continuous degradation. According to the MP, it is necessary to promote the allocation of financial resources from the National Ecological Fund for the prevention of environmental pollution through the construction of sewerage networks and wastewater treatment facilities. It is also necessary to apply control over the implementation of the Water Resources Law and the secondary legislation on wastewater treatment.
According to environmental activists, none of the nearly 3,500 rivers in the country meets drinking water standards, and many of them are not safe to take a bath in or to be used for irrigation.