pesd2025191001

	PRESENT ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Volume 20, Issue no.1/ 2026

	Title: The achievements, challenges and opportunities in the development of public water supply systems in the South Region of the Republic of Moldova
	Authors : Petru BACAL 1 , Daniela BURDUJA 1 1 Institute of Ecology and Geography of Moldova State University, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova E-mail : * Corresponding author: pbacal16@gmail.com
	https://doi.org/10.47743/pesd2026201008
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	Abstract Despite the lower provision of surface and groundwater resources, the population's access to public aqueducts is significantly higher than in the Northern and Central Development Regions. About ¾ of the population of the South Region has access to public waterworks, including around 90% in urban areas and 60% in the rural areas. The highest access rates are recorded in the administrative districts of Basarabeasca (95%), Cau?eni (87%), Stefan Voda (83%), Cimi?lia and Autonomous Territorial Unit Gagauzia (82% each), while the lowest rates are observed in the districts of Leova (51%) and Cantemir (57%). In the years 2014-2024, the total length of public aqueducts in the Southern Region increased by 1.5 times or with ˜1670 km, including in rural areas – by 1.5 times or with 1302 km and in urban areas – by 1.4 times or with 367 km. The total volume of water supplied in the study region increased by 1.8 times, including in rural areas by 2.1 times and in urban areas – by 1.5 times. The positive dynamics is manifested in all administrative districts of the Southern Region. At the same time, the quality of water captured from artesian wells frequently does not correspond to the physico-chemical and microbiological standards, and the technical and financial capacities for capturing and transporting water from the Dniester and Prut rivers are small. In this study were applied statistical and analytical methods, including systemic and SWOT analysis, cartographic and comparative methods.

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