Water from wells of south Moldova Gagauz administrative centre polluted - study

Chisinau, 4 June /MOLDPRES/ - The nitrate concentration in the wells from Comrat (Gagauz administrative centre from southern Moldova) exceeds the norm by 1.5 to 500 times. The data is contained in a programme on revitalization of the Comrat city for 2019-2021.    

Presently, the settlement’s main source of supply with drinking water is the water intake from Cioc-Maidan, with a capacity of 5,000 cubic metres per day. The structure was put into operation in 1999 and is placed 25 km far from the Comrat city.  

Twelve artesian wells, two reservoirs of 2.5 thousand cubic metres each, as well as a pumping station are placed at Cioc-Maidan. Another two reservoirs of 2.5 thousand cubic metres, as well as six wells supplying with water several districts of the city are situated on the territory of Comrat.    

Nevertheless, some of the residents use water from wells. According to specialists, this water is for technical needs and is harmful for people’s health.

“Either 95 per cent of the water samples collected from local wells does not meet the sanitary norms. These samples showed nitrates concentrations of 75-2,500 milligrams per one litre, while the norm is 50 mg/litre. Another problem consists in the quite high concentration of salts, discovered in 89 per cent of samples collected,” according to the website www.gagauzinfo.md.    

Specialists explain the pollution of the wells’ water with nitrates by the impact of the anthropogenic factor (people’s actions) and the high concentration of salts – by the natural features of the water sources.