A severe water crisis at the Paltinu Dam has affected more than 100,000 residents in the Prahova and Dâmbovița counties of Romania. The crisis began on November 28, 2025, due to increased turbidity in the dam’s water caused by recent heavy rains and ongoing maintenance work, rendering it impossible to treat the water for safe consumption properly.
The Voila and Ploiești water treatment stations, which supply drinking water to multiple towns in the region, had to halt operations. This prompted emergency measures, including the distribution of bottled water from state reserves and the deployment of water tankers supplied by firefighters and local authorities to affected areas.
Hospitals in Câmpina suspended non-emergency admissions due to a shortage of sterile water, and schools across 13 localities switched to online learning. Additionally, the Brazi power plant, which supplies about 10% of Romania’s electricity, experienced shutdowns due to insufficient process water.
Romanian authorities declared a state of emergency to facilitate faster intervention and resource allocation. The Minister of Environment called for the resignation of the management of the water authorities involved, criticising the lack of timely communication and prevention measures. Experts have highlighted that human errors and outdated infrastructure were the leading causes of the crisis.
Efforts to reduce turbidity and repair equipment are underway, with officials estimating that the water supply could resume around December 8, provided weather conditions stabilise, and filtration processes improve. Meanwhile, emergency water distribution continues to support the affected communities.
This crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in Romania’s water management systems and highlighted the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades and better crisis preparedness to avoid similar incidents in the future.
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