The Minister of Environment, accompanied by a team of specialists, conducted a working visit to Ukraine, where, together with their Ukrainian counterparts, they inspected several critical locations along the Dniester River.

During the visit, the delegation inspected the water intake station supplying drinking water to the city of Khotyn. Due to the exceptionally low water level in the Dniester, additional measures have been implemented to ensure that sufficient water reaches the intake point and that the city’s drinking water supply remains uninterrupted, TRIBUNA reports.

The delegation also visited another critical site near the city of Halych, located upstream on the Dniester. Technical teams from both countries carried out flow measurements, which showed that the river’s discharge at the time of the visit was only 17 cubic meters per second (17 m³/s).

The visit continued at the Novodnistrovsk Reservoir, which serves as the Dniester’s main water reserve. In recent days, the reservoir has received an average inflow of only about 30 cubic meters of water per second, while approximately 85 cubic meters per second have been released. Under these conditions, authorities are drawing on the reservoir’s strategic water reserves to maintain drinking water supplies and ensure the necessary downstream flow.

According to the Ministry, the water level in the Dniester is currently abnormally low. The main causes are well known: a prolonged lack of precipitation, reduced inflow into the Dniester Reservoir, and adverse climatic conditions. Hydrometeorological forecasts indicate that the situation is unlikely to improve during August; on the contrary, water levels may continue to decline.

During the visit, meetings were held with representatives of the State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine, led by Director Ihor Hopchak, officials from the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Service, and managers responsible for operating water intake facilities. The participants reviewed hydrological forecasts, discussed possible scenarios, and examined measures aimed at reducing potential risks.

In this context, the Ministry emphasized that water must be used responsibly. The situation is being continuously monitored by the competent authorities so that any necessary measures can be implemented promptly, depending on the evolution of hydrological conditions. The Ministry added that all future actions will be communicated publicly to ensure that both citizens and local public authorities are prepared to respond.

Hydrological drought is currently affecting the entire European continent. Major river basins, including the Danube, Rhine, and Elbe, are simultaneously experiencing significantly reduced water flows. The consequences are already affecting inland navigation, agriculture, electricity generation, and water supply systems, underscoring the scale of the phenomenon and the need for careful and efficient water resource management.