Water supply in Câmpina, interrupted 24 hours after the resumption of the supply due to “point failures”
The water supply in Câmpina municipality and partially in Poiana Câmpina commune, in Prahova county, was temporarily interrupted, Saturday evening, due to some “point failures” identified as a result of the filling of pipes and the re-introduction of water into the system.
The water was turned off again at Câmpina PHOTO: Facebook
According to a press release from Hidro Prahova, on Saturday evening, from 10:00 p.m., water supply was temporarily interrupted in the Câmpina municipality and in the Poiana Câmpina commune (partially), for carrying out some works on the distribution network.
“As a result of the filling of the pipes and the re-introduction of water into the system, point faults were identified, requiring operative intervention to stabilize the network. At the same time, in accordance with the recommendations received from the Prahova Public Health Directorate, when the supply resumed last night, it is mandatory to wash and purge the water supply system”it is stated in the quoted press release, News writes.
According to the same source, in this context, Hidro Prahova announced that it is temporarily interrupting the supply of water starting at 22:00, for an estimated period of approximately ten hours, depending on the progress of the works in the field.
The company specifies that the works aim to remedy the damage that occurred after the resumption of supply, the emergency change of some valves and the washing and purging of the water supply network. The purging operation involves cleaning an installation of impurities or residues, with the help of a stream of water under pressure.
“We note that, currently, Hidro Prahova SA supplies water to the population in accordance with the address sent by DSP Prahova, from the Voila Water Treatment Station. We apologize for the inconvenience caused and assure you that the teams are mobilized to resume the supply as soon as possible and in sanitary conditions”mentions the cited source.
Hidro Prahova also informs that all other localities remain in a normal water delivery schedule, with the prohibition of use for human consumption, according to the provisions and recommendations sent by DSP Prahova.
On Friday night, Hidro Prahova and the smaller companies that distribute drinking water in the county started filling the installations that ensure the supply of water to the localities left without water in the last week, due to the turbidity problems at the Paltinu dam. In the first phase, the population received water that can only be used for sanitizing toilets, and periodically the locals received Ro-Alert messages reminding them of this restriction.
The prefect of Prahova county, Daniel Nicodim, declares that the analyzes carried out by the Public Health Directorate (DSP) Prahova) on samples from the water entering the system, after the one-week interruption, will be ready next week, until then the water is not recommended for consumption. In this context, the Government will ensure, from state reserves, drinking water in the 13 localities affected by the water crisis.
DSP Prahova representatives stated that the institution established a set of measures for water operators, periodically samples will be collected to see what the potability parameters are.
“At this moment, the samples taken both by ESZ Prahova and by us are very good, and I am referring here to the physico-chemical parameters that fall within the potability standards. The fact that the system is still empty and not balanced, other analyzes will have to be taken when it is balanced. And then we will see the final part of the analyzes and we will see what is the degree of potability of the water”said DSP Prahova director, Cătălin Albu.
The Inspectorate for Emergency Situations Prahova will send messages through the RO-ALERT system every 3 hours, regarding the quality of the water in the network, between the hours of 6 am and 10 pm, by which it will announce that, for the time being, the use of piped water for consumption, personal hygiene of the body, hands or teeth, washing food and cooking is prohibited.
More than 107,000 people from 13 localities of Prahova county and one town in Dâmboviţa municipality did not have drinking water for a week, after the action of emptying the Paltinu dam to carry out unclogging works, combined with the torrential rains of two weeks ago, caused the turbidity of the water to rise to such an extent that it could no longer be treated.
Given that the water supply was stopped in the 14 localities, last Friday, without prior notice, the situation generated a whole scandal, in which the institutions involved accuse each other. The Minister of the Environment, Diana Buzoianu, sent the control body to the Exploatare Sistem Zonal Prahova company and to the Buzău Ialomiţa Water Basin Administration, accusing that these institutions knew the risks, but did not announce that they could not manage the situation.
Politically, several voices from the PSD have publicly stated that the responsibility lies with the Minister of the Environment. Diana Buzoianu announced that she is not resigning, arguing that situations that have been neglected for 35 years cannot be repaired in a few months and showing that the institutions at the local level exist to carry out their responsibilities, at the level of the central administration it cannot be done “micromanagement”.
