A state of emergency was introduced in Moldova due to critical shallowing of the Dniester

The water level in the Dniester reservoir in Ukraine fell from 121.5 meters to a critical level - below 111 meters, creating risks for the operation of hydroelectric power stations and the water supply of Moldova, said Moldovan Environment Minister Georgiy Khazhder.

On Saturday, a hydrological emergency regime came into force in Moldova for a period of 60 days, approved by parliament at an extraordinary meeting at the request of the government due to the shallowing of the Dniester River, which is the main waterway of the country.

“The water level in Lake Novodnistrovsk (reservoir at the Dniester hydroelectric power station - ed.) fell from the normal level of 121.5 meters to a critical threshold, below 111 meters - a drop of more than 10 meters. Thus, the balancing mode has changed: the dam no longer accumulates anything, and all the water coming from the Carpathians flows directly to the Republic of Moldova,” Khazhder wrote on his page in Facebook*.

According to him, the decrease in water flow will be felt more strongly by the upper section of the Dniester - up to the Dubossary reservoir. The lower section of the river is currently protected thanks to this reservoir.

“In Ukraine, below the level of 112 meters, technological risks arise for the hydroelectric power station, and in some areas there are already problems with water supply,” the minister explained.

At the same time, environmentalists are sounding the alarm, noting that water discharge from the Dniester reservoir has rapidly decreased.

“The water below goes into the fairway, and the bottom is exposed. Soon we will feel how water utilities have prepared for the new reality. But everyone will feel this development of events. God willing, we will survive without great losses. Although the damage to biodiversity will be enormous,” wrote Moldovan ecologist Ilya Trombitsky on his page on the social network Facebook*.

Previously, the Moldovan authorities limited the use of drinking water and water from open sources for washing streets, sidewalks, filling swimming pools and other purposes that are not a priority. For industrial enterprises whose activities are not related to food production, medicine or public health, a requirement has been established to reduce water consumption by at least 20%.