Read more about water resources in Moldova

From WaterWiki

In 2002, these two rivers accounted for a third of the potable water supply in Moldova, serving mostly the urban population of the country . Up to a fifth of this water is used in the food processing industry. Yet, the Ministry of Health reports that about a quarter to a half of all tests of the Nistru and Prut rivers do not pass quality standards to be used as source of potable water . In 2003, both rivers registered the presence of heavy metals, ammonia and nitrates anywhere from 5 to 18 times the allowable limits . The main sources of water pollution are urban and rural wastewater, pollution from agricultural operations, and spills from improper warehousing of dangerous chemicals, particularly fertilizers and pesticides. The quality of inland tributaries and reservoirs is alarming and some downstream segments are classified as extremely polluted. Ground water is the main source of potable water for over 1.5 million rural residents and about 300,000 residents of small and medium-sized towns . The quality of shallow groundwater has been deteriorated by nitrates, ammonia, chlorides and microbiological pollution . The average nitrate concentrations in wells exceed the maximum allowable limits for most categories of land-use, particularly residential areas. The significant deterioration of river water and groundwater in Moldova pose serious threats to human health. Approximately half of the country’s population is at risk of illness caused by contaminated drinking water . Water supply and sewerage infrastructure One in two Moldovans depend on piped water systems, mainly in cities and medium-sized towns . Only about half of these systems are in satisfactory condition, mostly in larger cities. Piped systems serve only about 9% of the population living in small towns and rural areas, and most of these systems are not operating, mainly due to broken pumps, collapsed boreholes and blocked distribution systems .

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection is preparing a new set of standards for the drinking water quality that is in line with the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality and the EU Drinking Water Directive. The last countrywide study indicates that about 71% of the urban population is connected to wastewater facilities. In Chisinau and Balti this increases to 90%. But many are not functioning. About a half of the populations of small and medium-sized towns are connected. By contrast, only 12% of the rural population ar