EU support enables Moldova's National Agency for Public Health (ANSP) to better monitor SARS-CoV-2 in urban wastewater.  
 
EU4Environment Water and Data participated in the second edition of the "One Health Conference" in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, on 23-24 November. Andrei Ursache, Programme Representative in Moldova and Prof. Norbert Kreuzinger (Vienna University of Technology, Institute for Water Quality and Resource Management) spoke about the good progress of the Covid monitoring of Chisinau's wastewater.

 
The graph below shows the first results of weekly monitoring of urban wastewater and the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 virus load in the local population.

Source: Research Unit Water Quality Management, Vienna University of Technology, based on data from ANSP and Apa Canal Chisinau

Environment Agency Austria (Umweltbundesamt Austria) is the leader of the EU4Environment Water and Data programme and responsible for water monitoring related activities. Austrian expert took the opportunity of this conference to continue its advisory work for Moldovan colleagues from the laboratory of the National Agency for Public Health (ANSP), which produced the figures in the graph.

The 2nd National Conference "One Health Approach - Achievements and Challenges" was organised by the Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity of the Republic of Moldova in cooperation with the National Agency for Public Health, the Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and in partnership with the World Health Organization Country Office in the Republic of Moldova, with financial support from the European Union.   

The conference aimed to bring together scientists and researchers to share their experiences and research findings on all aspects of the One Health approach. It also aimed to provide a leading interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and academics to present and discuss the latest innovations, trends and concerns, as well as practical challenges and solutions in the field of One Health.

On Monday 25 September, the "Nirnova Basin Intercommunal Development Association" (ADI) was officially registered with the Moldovan authorities and presented at a press conference in the Moldovan Parliament on 17 October.

 It is the result of several years of commitment and mobilisation by the mayors and Solidarity Water Europe (SWE), as well as the trust and support of the Moldovan national authorities and institutional partners (Artois Picardie Water Agency, Saint-Omer Urban Planning and Development Agency, French Embassy in Moldova, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation). This Intercommunal Development Association (ADI) is the first form of association of municipalities in the Republic of Moldova.

A first association of municipalities at the level of the Nirnova river basin.

This association of municipalities is part of the ambitious reform process initiated by Moldova on the way to European Union integration, in particular the transformation of public action. The Intercommunal Development Association (ADI) "Nirnova River Basin" aims to bring together all the communes of the river basin, comprising 30 villages located in the districts of Hincesti and Nisporeni (raïon), with a population of approximately 45,000 inhabitants, the majority of whom live in rural areas.

The member communities of the Association for the Development of Intercommunal Cooperation (ADI) are committed to jointly establishing water resource management in accordance with the principles of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), where water is a limited and vulnerable resource essential for sustaining life, the environment and development.

The EU's support for water in Moldova has materialised through early cooperation with this group of municipalities.

The EU4Environment Water and Data programme (since 2022) and the EU Water Initiative Plus project (2016-2021) have engaged at the level of the Intercommunal Development Association (ADI) in the Nirnova river basin, recognising that better water management requires management at the local level.

Under the EU Water Initiative Plus project, the development of a Master Plan for the Development of Water and Sanitation Services, at that time unofficially associated with the Intercommunal Development Association (ADI) in the Nirnova River Basin, and the EU4Environment Water and Data programme, provided support to this Association for the selection of an operator for the water and sanitation services operator, particularly in the southern sub-basin, which benefited from investment and support for the incubation of three implementation measures related to the Master Plan for the Development of Water and Sanitation Services.

EU4Environment Water and Data congratulates the mayors and organisations that supported the creation of the Intercommunal Development Association (ADI) and hopes that many projects will emerge with the aim of promoting shared, inclusive and solidarity-based governance of water resources at the scale of the Nirnova River Basin.

Read the press release: https://www.sie-see.org/en/article/moldovas-first-step-towards-intercommunity-the-first-ida-is-created/

Credit picture: International Secretariat for Water - Solidarity Water Europe.

Umweltbundesamt provides insights into water monitoring in Austria

How is water monitoring organized in the European Union and implemented in Austria? Which analytic procedures and reporting demands does the Water Framework Directive require? Which laboratory infrastructure is needed? Managers and laboratory experts from the Moldovan Environmental Agency get answers to these questions on a study visit to Austria from October 2 to 5. The visit is organized by the Umweltbundesamt, the Environment Agency Austria (EAA) in the framework of the EU4Environment Water Resources and Environmental data program and includes excursions to sampling locations in the south of Vienna, as well as a training session at the DWS Hydro-Ökologie GmbH.

The aim of the study visit is to strengthen the knowledge on correct implementation of European water monitoring policies, giving insights into Austrian routines and practices and to provide trainings on the biological laboratory work. The program includes meetings about national, local and international water data collection and reporting at the water management departments of the Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management and of the City of Vienna, as well as at the office of the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River. In addition, Moldovan experts receive information on data handling, interpretation and storage.

“Our know-how transfer helps EU Eastern Partner countries, such as the Republic of Moldova or Ukraine, to step-wise upgrade their water management for the EU Candidate status. As our cooperation exists since 2016, we confirm clear progress at responsible institutions but also understand local challenges to achieve the reforms committed by each Government”, explains Alexander Zinke from EEA, the leader of this EU programme

The official launch event of the EU4Environment – Water Resources and Environmental Data programme in the Republic of Moldova was held in an online format on 9 March 2022. The programme will further support the Republic of Moldova in the preservation of its natural resources in line with the European Green Deal and a post-COVID-19 green recovery. It aims to improve the health and wellbeing of Moldovan citizens, as well as the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The programme is part of the Team Europe Initiative on Water and Zero Pollution, which aims at moving towards a toxic-free environment for all citizens.

EU4Environment – Water Resources and Environmental Data reinforces the on-going EU4Environment Action in the Republic of Moldova. It aims to support existing and new policies and their implementation at local levels through decentralized management of water resources, and to improve access to reliable data and information on water resources, but also on air quality, land use and waste to decision-makers and Moldovan citizens. To this end, EU4Environment – Water Resources and Environmental Data builds upon the success of previous operational projects like the European Water Initiative Plus (EUWI+) and the Shared Environmental Information System Phase II (ENIS SEIS II East).

The EUWI+ project has helped the Republic of Moldova implement its existing Association Agreement with the EU and gradually adopt EU water management practices. The River Basin Management Plan 2022-2027 for the Danube-Prut & Black Sea River Basin was developed (15,000 km2, 1 Million inhabitants). Its development involved 20 Moldovan experts and 280 local participants took part in stakeholder consultations. To reinforce knowledge of water resources, monitoring sites for rivers and groundwater were upgraded, and field surveys covering more than 110 sites were held in the frame of the project. Additional work on water data integration, laws and regulations enforcement as well as financing mechanisms and public awareness raising was also undertaken during the project.

The ENI SEIS II East project supported implementation of the principles and practices of the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) to strengthen the production of environmental data and indicators in biodiversity, water, land, waste and air. The project developed the country’s institutional capacity in environmental assessment and accounting, and as an example introduced new tools for improving the accessibility to air quality monitoring data based on the EU Air Quality Directives and the Air Quality Index published by the European Environment Agency.

The European Commission and the implementing partners look forward to continuing and strengthening their engagement with the Republic of Moldova under this new European Union support. Together they will strengthen the management of water resources and environmental data to benefit the environment and wellbeing of Moldovan citizens.

Ms Iuliana Cantaragiu, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Moldova said: “We are grateful to the European Union and our partners for their continued efforts to support the Republic of Moldova in achieving the national objectives related to sustainable management and protection of the water resources, which are in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. I assure you that our development partners will have the full support of national institutions for the successful implementation of the Programme.” 

H.E. Ms Stella Avallone, Austrian Ambassador in the Republic of Moldova said “As implementing partner and co-funder of this new programme, Austria is very honoured to intensify its partnership with the Republic of Moldova in the field of the environment. Austrian experts will support their Moldovan counterparts in improving monitoring of water resources, and expanding the database on environmental information on water, air, land use, but also waste.Together with all partners of this programme, Austria will participate in improving environmental resilience and human health in the Republic of Moldova.”