The recent pollution of the Dniester River with petroleum products, which has created risks for the drinking water supply of several localities in the Republic of Moldova, highlights the essential role of standards in monitoring, managing and preventing environmental incidents.

International standards provide methodologies and best practices that enable responsible institutions, water operators and testing laboratories to properly assess the level of contamination and effectively manage crisis situations. For example, the ISO 5667 series establishes internationally recognized procedures for water sampling and analysis, which are essential for determining the level of pollution.

At the same time, the ISO 24511 standard provides guidelines for the management of water supply and wastewater services, helping operators improve their capacity to respond to exceptional situations. In addition, the implementation of environmental management systems in accordance with ISO 14001 supports pollution prevention and reduces environmental impact.

Furthermore, the ISO 22320 standard provides an effective framework for coordinating emergency response actions, facilitating cooperation between the institutions involved in managing such incidents.