People in Romania's southwest struggle to access water as one third of country faces drought

By&nbspAdriana Matei

Published on 01/07/2025 - 14:04 GMT+2

Romania is emotion nan harsh effects of nan caller somesthesia spike crossed Europe, arsenic drought has severely impacted regular life, particularly successful nan southwestern region of Dolj.

In nan colony of Teascu din Deal, residents look a regular situation to find water. Many locomotion agelong distances to springs aliases wells, carrying dense five-litre jerry cans aliases barrels backmost home.

Nicolae Nițuleasa, who resides successful Teascu din Deal, is among those who must recreation acold to scope a outpouring drilled by nan municipality hall. However, nan travel has dwindled to a trickle, truthful group for illustration him person to hold for agelong periods to capable a azygous bottle.

Others are forced to trek moreover further—sometimes done unsmooth wood paths—risking spilling nan h2o connected their return journey.

“It’s difficult successful nan heat, particularly without water,” says Nițuleasa. “By nan clip I get home, nan h2o is nary longer cold.”

All 50 families successful Teascu din Deal stock this hardship. Some person resorted to collecting rainwater to supplement their supply.

“We built a reservoir and cod rainwater, but during drought it’s very hard,” Ruxandra Boltașu from adjacent Argetoaia explained.

Another Argetoaia resident Bălă Marin added, “We installed gutters and a one-tonne vessel to stitchery h2o for our chickens and vegetables.”

Local officials admit nan severity of nan problem but opportunity options are limited.

“There is nary different solution for nan section people,” Argetoaia Mayor Elena Dabega told Euronews Romania. “Next week, nan politician will put machinery to dispersed stones and amended entree to nan well.”

Romania's h2o situation extends good into nan Danube stream valley, wherever wells person besides dried up, and residents trust connected a constricted municipal h2o supply.

“I bargain h2o because I request it for cooking,” 1 resident told Euronews. Another described nan business arsenic “pure poverty,” comparing it to nan Sahara Desert, arsenic pumps and h2o systems neglect to meet basal needs.

According to Romania's National Meteorological Administration, one-third of nan state is experiencing nan latest utmost drought.

Video editor • Lucy Davalou