The government announces what support measures it has taken for the Romanians in Prahova and Dâmbovița affected by the water crisis / Over 540,000 liters of water distributed as an emergency

The government presented on Wednesday evening a set of measures adopted by central and local institutions in the context of the interruption of water supply for over 100,000 people in Prahova and Dâmbovița, who have been without drinking water since Friday. Authorities reported the distribution of more than 540,000 liters of water.

According to the Government, following the decisions taken in the National Committee for Emergency Situations (CNSU), convened by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, between November 30 and December 3, 541,954 liters of potable, bottled and household water were distributed.

In parallel, the Ministry of the Environment has activated an operative cell with representatives of MMAP, ANAR, Hidroelectrica and hydrotechnical specialists, which monitor levels and turbidity in real time.

“Minister Diana Buzoianu went to the field in Paltinu for the direct verification of the operational measures. The State Secretary for Water, Elena Tudose, was in the field, in Paltinu and at the Voila Station, together with the technical teams from ANAR and SGA. The ANAR and ABA teams remained in the field 24/24 for measurements, monitoring turbidity, checking flow rates and evaluating the state of the installations,” the press release of the executive.

Immediate measures established by technical teams

According to the Government, following the technical evaluations, the following were ordered:

• opening the half-depth drain to ensure a constant flow to the ELSID outlet;
• establishing the optimal flow rate of 3 m³/s for feeding the outlet lake of the Voila Station;
• the reconfiguration of the water transit route through the Hidroelectrica facilities so that the water reaches the intake lake faster;
• training the ESZ Prahova operator to prepare the resumption of water treatment as soon as the turbidity drops below the legal limits.

“ANAR carried out the controlled opening maneuver of the semi-deep drain on December 1, at 12:00. The flow of 3 m³/s to the Voila Station was stabilized. ABA permanently monitored the evolution of turbidity. The SGA specialists took successive samples to determine the moment when the water can be introduced into the treatment plant. Hidroelectrica provided technical personnel to operate the energy installations necessary for the transit of the flows”, explains the Government

The Control Body of MMAP verifies how the ESZ Prahova operator fulfilled its obligations regarding technical reserves and informing the authorities.

When could the supply of drinking water be resumed?

According to technical estimates, the supply of drinking water could be resumed in a maximum of six days, depending on the evolution of turbidity.

“The Voila intake lake is being fed, with a stable flow of 3 m³/s. The turbidity is continuously monitored; the level must fall below the sanitary limit to resume water treatment. ANAR specialists are permanently in the field at the Paltinu dam, the ELSID intake, the Voila intake lake and the Voila Treatment Station. The technical estimate for resuming the supply of drinking water to the population is a maximum of six days, in terms of turbidity and function capacity the operator of ESZ Prahova to restore the treatment process”, the cited press release also states.

There are no problems with electricity

At the request of the Minister of Energy, Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, the Prahova County Committee for Emergency Situations met on Tuesday evening to assess the impact on industrial consumers and critical infrastructure.

The Secretary of State Casian Nițulescu and the director of DEN – Transelectrica Virgiliu Ivan assured that there are no problems in the electricity supply at the level of Prahova county and at the national level, even in the conditions where the CECC Brazi plant belonging to OMV Petrom was stopped.

Measures also in hospitals

The Ministry of Health has activated a crisis cell and is monitoring five affected hospitals in Prahova, where there are 378 patients, namely Câmpina Municipal Hospital, Voila Psychiatry Hospital, Florești Pneumophysiology Hospital, Băicoi City Hospital, Breaza Pneumology Hospital.

For possible transfers, the emergency hospitals in Bucharest – Universitar, Elias, Bagdasar-Arseni and Grigore Alexandrescu – have prepared beds and are on alert.

Over 100,000 people, without water for almost a week

More than 100,000 people from Prahova and Dâmboviţa have not received water in the centralized system since Friday, after the water in the Paltinu dam rose by approximately 12 meters, and the water still cannot be properly treated to become potable.

It is about the localities of Câmpina, Breaza, Băicoi, Adunaţi, Poiana Câmpina, Şotrile, Băneşti, Brebu, Telega, Vărbilău, Aluniş and partially Floreşti commune from Prahova county, as well as the Moreni locality from Dâmbovița.

People receive drinking and household water from tankers brought by the fire brigade and authorities, and on Sunday the decision was made that they will receive 200,000 liters of water from the state reserve.

The Prahova County Council, the main shareholder of the water supplier, claims that the problem is at the Paltinu dam, where the installations have entered a technical blockage due to turbidity.