--- title: "Drinking water for thousands of households in Moldova, sourced from Romania" url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/83271/drinking-water-for-thousands-of-households-in-moldova-sourced-from-romania published: 2026-08-17T14:45:00Z language: en author: "Gabriela Melnic" section: "Regional" source: radiomoldova.md --- # Drinking water for thousands of households in Moldova, sourced from Romania > Residents of the Republic of Moldova will benefit from drinking water supplied by Iași. The city of Fălești, along with several villages in the Fălești and Ungheni districts, will be connected to the Iași water network through a new pipeline that will cross beneath the Prut River at Sculeni. This project, initiated by the operator ApaVital, offers a solution for regions in the Republic of Moldova that are struggling with chronic drought and significant drinking water quality issues. ![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/a106aa76-ce1a-4b1a-8018-f9db2192bb05.jpg) Residents of the Republic of Moldova will benefit from drinking water supplied by Iași. The city of Fălești, along with several villages in the Fălești and Ungheni districts, will be connected to the Iași water network through a new pipeline that will cross beneath the Prut River at Sculeni. This project, initiated by the operator *ApaVital*, offers a solution for regions in the Republic of Moldova that are struggling with chronic drought and significant drinking water quality issues. The pipeline crossing the Prut River at Sculeni will connect the water system in the Republic of Moldova to the *ApaVital* network in Romania. This project aims to supply clean drinking water to 15 localities in the Fălești and Ungheni districts, including Fălești, Sculeni, Gherman, Horești, as well as the villages of Lucăceni, Unteni, Risipeni (with the village of Bocșa), Izvoare, Călugăr (with the village of Frumușica), Făleștii Noi, Albinețul Vechi, and Năvârneț. **79 million lei project** In Fălești, the situation is more complicated than a temporary crisis caused by drought. Vadim Roșca, the president of the District Council, states that the water in many localities is non-potable. This makes the new project crucial for providing citizens with a safe and high-quality water source. *"The water is not suitable for drinking; it is technical water. This project is intended to ensure that the inhabitants of the Fălești district have access to good quality drinking water,"* Vadim Roșca told Teleradio-Moldova. The technical documentation indicates that the project will take approximately 18 months to complete from the start of construction. Currently, the project is in the public procurement phase, so construction has not yet begun. The system is designed to potentially serve up to 50,000 residents of the Fălești district. However, Vadim Roșca specifies that not all of them will rely on this new source, as some localities will continue to receive water from an aqueduct supplying the municipality of Bălți from the Nistru. The estimated investment for the aqueduct's construction is 79 million lei. The primary funding will come from the Nord Regional Development Agency, with additional contributions from the Falesti District Council. The district president noted that the project was re-evaluated after he took office, indicating that the original focus was more on irrigation than on providing the population with drinking water. Initially, the project underwent a public procurement procedure; however, the contract with the selected contractor was later terminated. Vadim Roșca explained that both the director and owner of the winning company were detained shortly after the contract was signed. As a result, the authorities had to organize a new tender, which is currently in its final stages. **Limited water supply and poor quality** In the commune of Risipeni, located in the Falesti district, approximately 80 households are connected to a self-built aqueduct system, while the remaining residents rely on other water sources. During periods of drought, the city hall delivers water by tanker. *"In the summer, during drought conditions, it becomes very difficult for residents. We also transport water by tanker from several springs and reservoirs,"* said Dmitri Mosoreti, the mayor of Risipeni. There are about 1,250 people living in Risipeni, and after the construction of the aqueduct, it is expected that between 600 and 700 households will be connected to the water network. According to the mayor, the necessary infrastructure exists but is not yet complete. In the commune of Sculeni, the water supply also becomes problematic during the dry months. In the three villages of the commune—Floreni, Sculeni, and Blindești—there are approximately 1,000 consumers, and well water levels decline during the summer. *“In the summer, the water in the wells diminishes, and what remains is insufficient,”* declared Sergiu Gușevati, the mayor of Sculeni. In the village of Gherman, an outdated aqueduct is set to be connected to a new water source. “Although some locals still rely on wells for water—where the quality is often subpar—the new aqueduct in Sculeni will provide access to a safe and high-quality drinking water supply,” the mayor explained to us. During hot seasons, water pressure drops in certain streets, and supply may be temporarily interrupted. The city hall has also excavated a well, but officials indicate that existing sources are nearing their capacity. For the aqueduct to function properly after reconstruction, it will need to be connected to the *ApaVital* system. District authorities will collaborate with the operator in Romania during this phase. In total, *ApaVital* plans to build four undercrossings of the Prut River to supply drinking water to the Republic of Moldova: at Sculeni, Măcărești, in the vicinity of the future Ungheni–Ungheni bridge, and along the Tabăra–Viilor connection. Across these four crossings, *ApaVital* estimates it can serve approximately 120,000 to 150,000 residents. In the long term, the project aims to benefit at least four towns—Glodeni, Nisporeni, Ungheni, and Fălești—as well as about 100 communes. Ultimately, the total number of beneficiaries could reach approximately 250,000 people.