Dniester River water levels face critical pressure as reserves deplete

The hydrological situation of the Dniester River remains critical as water reserves in the Novodnistrovsk reservoir are rapidly depleting. While water levels in the Dubăsari reservoir are currently stable, the Moldovan Ministry of Environment warns that this stability depends entirely on water discharge from Ukraine.

Natural water inflow has dropped significantly. At the beginning of August, the inflow rate was approximately 38 cubic meters per second, but it has recently fallen to an average of 22.38 cubic meters per second, hitting a record low of 14 cubic meters per second on August 14. To maintain a necessary downstream flow of 75-85 cubic meters per second, water is being released from the Novodnistrovsk reservoir at three to four times the rate of the incoming natural flow.

The water level in the Novodnistrovsk reservoir fell by one meter in July and another meter by late August, with a total decrease of up to 1.3 meters expected by the end of the month. The Ministry warns that if natural inflow does not increase or if Ukrainian discharges are reduced, maintaining minimum flow levels could become impossible, directly impacting downstream water intake stations. The Nistrean Commission, an intergovernmental body between Moldova and Ukraine, will meet to discuss solutions for protecting the river's ecosystem and water intake points.