The municipalities of Mărculeşti and Lunga lie in the north of the country. The operation of a former Soviet military air base here has caused significant environmental pollution. A lack of safety when loading fuel and improper handling caused widespread spills and subsequently severe impairment to the drinking water sources in the surrounding area. The total estimated amount of oil that has leaked into the environment is 100-500 tons. The CzDA has therefore heeded the affected communities’ development call to resolve this historical environmental burden.

From 2016 to 2021, the third phase of the development project focused on intensifying the clean-up, thus reducing the groundwater pollution, which poses a major threat to the local population’s health. The project’s activities also helped prevent oil substances from spreading further, especially to the Raut River, one of the tributaries to the Dniester. The sophisticated clean-up system is based on a large number of detailed investigations and expert work that have been ongoing since 2010.

More in the project’s final press release.