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Article 1 - Volume 33/1 - 2023

Paper title:

The peculiarities of the water use in the Danube-Prut and Black Sea hydrographical district (sector of the Republic of Moldova)

Author(s):

Petru BACAL1 and Daniela BURDUJA 1

1 Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chişinău, Republic of Moldova

Pages:

1 - 18

Publishing date:

24 July 2023

Abstract:

The purpose of present study is the assessment of water use at the hydrographic basins level. The main objectives of this study are: the analysis of volumes of abstracted water by the catchment sources; the evaluation of the volumes of water used by the main usage categories; the dynamics of the volume of abstracted and used water in the years 2003- 2021. The study area includes the Danube-Prut and Black Sea Hydrographic District and the related main river basins. The main methods used in this study are: statistical, analytical, comparative, cartographic, as well as consultation of authorities in the field of water use. Despite the large share (43%) of the total area, the Danube-Prut and Black Sea Hydrographic District accounts for only about 4% of the total volume of abstracted and used water from the Republic of Moldova, which is due to the very pronounced rural and agrarian character compared to the Dniester Hydrographic District. During the analyzed period, there is an oscillating evolution of the volume of abstracted and used water, against the background of a general negative trend, interrupted in the years 2007, 2009 and 2020, with longer droughts. In recent years (2015-2021), it was registered a positive dynamic, which is manifested in all the analyzed river basins and categories of water use, which is due especially to the multiple expansion (more than 3 times) of the rural public aqueducts.

Keywords:

Danube, Prut, Black Sea, water use, agriculture, households.