On 1-5 July, the EU4Environment Water and Data Programme carried out a groundwater and surface water monitoring field survey in the Republic of Moldova. 

The survey aimed to assess the impact of human pressures on rivers and groundwater in Moldova.

The sampled sites had not been monitored by the EU4Environment Water and Data programme during the previous surveys in 2022 and 2023. 

This time, groundwater and surface water monitoring sites were selected to be close to each other.  The aim of this survey was to identify possible connections between surface water and groundwater.

The first meeting of the recently established Nirnova Basin Intercommunal Development Association (ADI) was held on 16 January 2024. The group of municipalities was established in accordance with the Law No. 17 of 02.02.2023 on Intercommunal Development Associations of the Republic of Moldova (read more).

The meeting was attended by the Ministries of Environment, of Infrastructure and Regional Development of the Republic of Moldova, by Water Solidarity Europe and International Secretariat for Water (SIE-SEE), representative of the Moldovan Parliament, French Embassy in the Republic of Moldova, Apele Moldovei Water Agency, Artois Picardie Water Agency from France, Presidents of Hincesti and Nisporeni Raions and Mayors from Nisporeni and Hincesti Raions.

The meeting focused on the future procedural work of the ADI: election of the ADI President, creation of thematic working groups. In the afternoon, participants discussed the action plan for water and sanitation.

Following the Water and Sanitation Master Plan developed with EU support, the EU4Environment - Water and Data programme is supporting the ADI in the selection of an operator to provide water and sanitation services to the population.

The EU4Environment Water and Data Programme also supports the technical clarifications necessary for the implementation of three main actions of the Water and Sanitation Master Plan:

• Southern area: completion of the main water supply (bringing water to the main water tower)
• Northern area: Water supply comes from Iași in Romania, the aim is to complete the main drinking water supply (bringing water to the main water tower) and to develop the internal distribution network (water supply to the houses).
• Calculation of the costs of completing the internal distribution networks

Moldova's progress in the implementation of European Union directive on protection of waters against nitrate pollution from agricultural sources was discussed on 2 July at a workshop (EU Directive 91/676/EEC). The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, as well as national and international experts.

Irina Punga, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Moldova, presented the significant developments and the country's firm commitment to adopting sustainable agricultural practices to protect water resources.

The importance of the Action Programme for the Protection of Waters against Nitrate Pollution from Agriculture, which is essential for accession to the European Union and for environmental protection, was emphasised. The workshop was organised with the support of the EU4Environment - Water Resources and Environmental Data project.

Read the article (in Romanian) on the Ministry's website: https://www.mediu.gov.md/ro/content/4969

A meeting on the implementation of the EU Directive 91/676/EC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources was held on 14 December.

Ms Irina Punga, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Moldova, participated in the meeting.

The meeting was organised with the support of the EU4Environment Water and Data Programme. Two French experts from the International Office for Water presented France's experience in implementing the EU Nitrates Directive.

The participants discussed the protection of water against nitrate pollution in rivers and groundwater through the implementation of specific measures and codes of good agricultural practice.

Irina Punga stressed that the efficient management of water resources is a priority for the country:

"Pollution of water resources is a serious problem in the Republic of Moldova, especially due to excessive use of nitrates and fertilizers in agricultural activities. Given the country's status as a candidate for EU accession, issues related to the harmonisation of EU directives are of paramount importance in the work of the Ministry of Environment and other central authorities".

EU support enables Moldova's National Agency for Public Health (ANSP) to better monitor SARS-CoV-2 in urban wastewater.  
 
EU4Environment Water and Data participated in the second edition of the "One Health Conference" in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, on 23-24 November. Andrei Ursache, Programme Representative in Moldova and Prof. Norbert Kreuzinger (Vienna University of Technology, Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management) spoke about the good progress of the Covid monitoring of Chisinau's wastewater.

 
The graph below shows the first results of weekly monitoring of urban wastewater and the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 virus load in the local population.

Source: Research Unit Water Quality Management, Vienna University of Technology, based on data from ANSP and Apa Canal Chisinau

Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt Austria) is the leader of the EU4Environment Water and Data programme and responsible for water monitoring related activities. Austrian expert took the opportunity of this conference to continue its advisory work for Moldovan colleagues from the laboratory of the National Agency for Public Health (ANSP), which produced the figures in the graph.

The 2nd National Conference "One Health Approach - Achievements and Challenges" was organised by the Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity of the Republic of Moldova in cooperation with the National Agency for Public Health, the Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and in partnership with the World Health Organization Country Office in the Republic of Moldova, with financial support from the European Union.   

The conference aimed to bring together scientists and researchers to share their experiences and research findings on all aspects of the One Health approach. It also aimed to provide a leading interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and academics to present and discuss the latest innovations, trends and concerns, as well as practical challenges and solutions in the field of One Health.