The preliminary conclusions of the Control Body regarding the Paltinu situation could be released on Friday and I believe it should also be considered whether ESZ Prahova should continue to exist, Environment, Waters and Forests Minister Diana Buzoianu said on Thursday.
"Tomorrow [Friday, 5 December 2025], I hope we will already have the preliminary conclusions of the Control Body report, showing an objective analysis of all documents made available to these authorities. At the moment, we understand that some authorities are refusing to provide documents (...) Currently, this is a unique situation nationwide with the water operator ESZ, which doesn't exists anywhere else in the country. Elsewhere, either the operator is at county level and owned by the County Council, or it is private. These are the two scenarios in other counties. In Prahova county, explicitly, there is this hybrid structure between an operator partly under the County Council and this operator managed by the Romanian Waters. Given that Prahova has some of the highest prices and people are actually paying more for water, there is this structure which is completely non-functional and cannot manage. I believe it should also be analysed whether this company should continue to exist in the future. I believe that there is a need for a very serious public discussion on this subject. In recent days, I have spoken with many technical experts within ESZ who have explained the mistakes made there, including what is happening currently, as it is run primarily politically," the Environment Minister said in an interview with Digi 24 private television station.
According to the quoted source, regarding the situation at Paltinu, "the resignation of the directors who oversaw the local implementation of these works is needed."
Asked whether she would resign, the minister said that for the Social Democratic Party (PSD), which requested this, there is no argument "other than that they do not like the USR [the Save Romania Union]."
The Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests (MMAP) mentioned in a release on Thursday that in the past hours, incorrect interpretations emerged in the public space, as well as false statements regarding the technical documents drafted in October and November, in the context of the situation at the Paltinu dam.
Tens of thousands of people in several localities from Prahova and Dambovita counties have been left without drinking water since Friday, 28 November, following works at the Paltinu reservoir.
Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests Diana Buzoianu announced on Wednesday that the delivery of drinking water to the affected localities will resume on Monday, 8 December.
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