An unexpected crisis
The crisis at the Paltinu Dam left over 100,000 people in southern Romania without drinking water and led to the partial shutdown of one of the country's most important power plants
Roxana Vasile, 05.12.2025, 13:50
Southern Romania is facing a crisis that is as unexpected as it is serious! Over 100,000 people in the area have been without tap water for days after the Paltinu dam was emptied for repairs. In addition, at the end of November, heavy rainfall led to flooding that further silted up the bottom of the dam, which was already full of mud. People affected by the lack of water in the network therefore depend on water bought from stores—if stocks are not exhausted—or on water taken from the National Reserves and brought to the area by trucks or tankers.
Endless queues to fill a few containers for drinking or household use have become part of everyday life for the affected locals. Schools in the affected areas have been closed, and classes are being held online. Hospitals are no longer admitting patients, with serious cases being transferred to other cities, including Bucharest. Authorities say that the water supply could be resumed early next week, but only with non-potable water.
The crisis is also affecting the energy system. Due to the water shortage, OMV Petrom has halted production at the Brazi power plant, which accounts for 10% of the country’s electricity production. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has called for those responsible for the situation to be held accountable. Environment Minister Diana Buzoianu has also called for resignations – the Romanian Water Administration, which reports to her ministry, blames the regional water system operator for the problems that have arisen. Ms. Buzoianu herself is being asked to resign because she was reportedly warned about the risks of emptying the Paltinu dam but failed to take action.
“How many hands does the emptying of a dam pass through? Which institutions are involved? Where did the collaboration between institutions break down, and why is no one taking responsibility for the failure? How have dams been emptied in the past?” asks the daily Ziarul Financiar in an article. Another publication, Adevărul, writes that the current crisis in Paltinu “was the inevitable consequence of a chain of technical negligence tolerated over time, of a draining operation carried out without reserves and without alternative strategies, aggravated by the lack of coordination between institutions and the ignoring of hydrological warnings, turning a predictable intervention into a regional collapse of the water supply and major energy vulnerability.”
The current crisis was not the result of an inevitable accident, but the consequence of a long series of human errors, delayed decisions, and lack of institutional coordination, according to an analysis by the Intelligent Energy Association, quoted by Digi24 TV. Dumitru Chisăliță, president of the association, says that the situation is “100% human error” and is an eloquent example of the systemic dysfunctions within the Romanian institutions. “We have a state that, unfortunately, is drowning us not in water or silt, but in its own institutions that ride roughshod over each other. Without real reforms, in a month, two months, or a year, we will have a new Paltinu…” warns Dumitru Chisăliță. (MI)
