世界发展银行-Moldova---Water-Security-Diagnostic-and-Future-Outlook_129页_13mb

Summary of Moldova: Water Security Diagnostic and Future Outlook

Core Content

This report provides a comprehensive diagnostic of Moldova's water security and outlines future outlooks and recommendations for achieving sustainable water management. It is part of the World Bank Group's Water Global Practice (GWSP), a multidonor initiative that combines knowledge, financing, and implementation to support water security and sanitation globally.

Moldova, a landlocked country in Eastern Europe with a population of about 3 million and 60% living in rural areas, faces significant development challenges, including economic recession, reliance on remittances, and vulnerability to climate change. The report emphasizes the importance of water security in supporting economic, social, and environmental development, and highlights the need for strategic investment and policy reform.

Main Points

• Water Security Importance: Water security is essential for sustainable development, influencing economic growth, public health, and environmental sustainability. It mitigates risks associated with climate change, such as increased frequency and intensity of droughts and floods.

• Water Resources: Moldova has abundant total renewable water resources, estimated at 15.6 billion cubic meters annually. However, the majority of this water is sourced from transboundary rivers (Prut and Dniester), and internal water resources, including surface and groundwater, are also significant.

• Water Use Patterns: Thermal cooling for combined heat and power plants accounts for 77% of water withdrawals, followed by drinking water (19%), industry (4%), and irrigation (1%). Despite this, the country's irrigation systems, largely collapsed since the Soviet era, are underutilized and inefficient.

• Current Water Security Outcomes:

  • Economic: Agriculture is a major contributor to GDP (10% in 2019) and employment, but is vulnerable to climate extremes.
  • Social: There are stark inequalities in access to water and sanitation between urban and rural areas.
  • Environmental: Water bodies are heavily polluted, and ecosystem services are compromised due to canalization and land degradation.

• Future Water Scenarios (Water Futures):

  • The report outlines three main water futures: Business as Usual (BAU), Urban and Industrial Development, and Holistic Regional Development.
  • Under all scenarios, water resources are not a constraint, but irrigation shortages may occur in certain regions.
  • The Holistic Regional Development scenario predicts a tenfold expansion of irrigated area, which could enhance water security and economic outcomes.

• Key Risks and Uncertainties:

  • Climate change poses a major threat, with models predicting a warmer and drier climate.
  • Increased irrigation demand upstream in Ukraine could impact Moldova's water availability, but the effects are minimal.
  • Environmental flow requirements and irrigation water demand often conflict, especially in drought-prone areas.

Key Recommendations

• Water Resource Management: Prioritize the efficient use of existing irrigation systems, with a focus on climate-informed expansion and adaptive measures.
• Water Supply and Sanitation Services: Improve access and quality of water and sanitation services, especially in rural areas, through targeted investments and policy reforms.
• Agriculture Modernization: Support the development of high-value, climate-resilient agriculture, including private and public irrigation schemes.
• Flood Protection and Mitigation: Invest in flood protection infrastructure to reduce economic and social impacts of extreme weather events.
• Sector Governance and Financing: Strengthen governance structures, improve institutional capacity, and enhance coordination between public and private actors.

Key Information

• Water Balance Model: A tool was developed to assess water availability and demand under different scenarios.
• Climate Projections: Most models predict a warming and drying trend, increasing the risk of droughts and floods.
• Economic Impact: Floods have an estimated annual economic impact of US$100 million, affecting 70,000 Moldovans.
• Irrigation Expansion: Under the Holistic Regional Development scenario, irrigated area could expand from 6,640 to 62,000 hectares.
• Nonrevenue Water: Moldova's nonrevenue water rate remains high, indicating inefficiencies in the sector.
• Financing: The report highlights the need for a large financing envelope to support water security initiatives, with prioritization across different sectors.

Conclusion

The report underscores the importance of water security for Moldova's development and outlines a pathway for achieving it through strategic investment, policy reform, and improved governance. It emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to water management, considering the interplay between climate change, economic development, and social equity. The recommendations aim to enhance the resilience of Moldova's water sector and ensure sustainable growth for the country.