Recent tests show oil pollutants at monitored Dniester sites have not exceeded safety thresholds. Officials stress they need two consecutive safe readings before restoring pump operations.
As of March 18, 2026, water tests of the Dniester River show that the content of petroleum products does not exceed the established norms in the monitoring area. Moldova expects further stabilization of the situation: Environment Minister Georghe Gaider assured that if conditions remain within permissible values over the next 48 hours, the Kosauți pumping station, which supplies water to the Soroca, Florești, Sîngerei districts and the city of Bălți, may be switched back on.
At a government briefing on March 18, the head of the agency noted that for the first time since the start of the ecological crisis on the Dniester, at three critical points (Naslavcha, Kosauți, Rezina) the values reached the maximum permissible limit of 0.1 mg/L for petroleum products.
«It is important to have at least two consecutive analyses within the permissible values, taken at intervals of at least one day. Only in this way do we guarantee that the water being supplied will not pose a danger to citizens»
According to the official, additional resources and materials for water purification are arriving from Romania to the Kosauți station, increasing the safety of the supply.
It is also emphasized that at present, thanks to the joint work of specialists from Romania and equipment provided by the neighboring state, seven absorbing dams have been installed on the Dniester – a step that should reduce the impact of pollution on water quality, said Prime Minister Alexandru Muntianu.
The current situation has affected Moldova’s northern regions: they were disconnected from the Dniester water supply after an oil spill into the river as a result of Russia’s strike on the Dniester Hydroelectric Plant in Novodnistrovsk, Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine. The worst situation was recorded in the municipality of Bălți, the second-most populous city in the country, where the Dniester is the main source of water. Since the evening of March 14, about 50 thousand residents of the city have had no water supply; there are queues at wells and water is delivered by tanker trucks.
PHOTO GALLERY: Oil in the Dniester and water queues during the crisis following Russia’s strike on the Dniester Hydroelectric Plant.
«In their actions there are signs of criminal offenses provided for by Art. 345 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Threat or violence against a law enforcement officer” and Art. 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Deliberate destruction or damage to property.” The respective notices have been sent to the National Police»
– Press Service