Romania is one of the European countries with the least water resources 2011-07-05

Romania is one of the European countries with the least water resources and most cities do not have access to drinking water that meets EU standards, official data show.

Authorities are trying to improve the situation. “We are planning to set up reservoirs and even build new lakes to increase the quantity of water and the storage possibility in case of floods. This is an important issue, as lack of sufficient water may become a factor limiting Romania’s economic development,” Virgil Cirstea from ANPR said.

Romania is also cooperating with international lenders to modernise its water utilities. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EBRD, has launched a €200 million framework to part-finance the extension and rehabilitation of the water supply and wastewater collection systems in many localities.

In recent years, Romania has tried to improve water and waste disposal in most localities but problems have yet to be solved. According to the National Statistics Institute, INS, around 13,000 villages lack access to running water or have no sewer systems.

Media reports say Romania needs around 18 billion euros to address the issue of basic access to water for all people and for setting up waste water treatment units in all main localities. On joining the European Union, Bucharest pledged to solve these problems by 2018.