More than 100,000 residents of Prahova County in Romania have been left without drinking water for several days following a major failure at the Paltinu reservoir. After recent heavy rains, water turbidity in the reservoir surged dramatically, forcing the local water utility to halt the supply completely to avoid sanitary risks. Schools, hospitals, and public institutions were left dry, prompting temporary closures.

Amid the unfolding crisis, the Romanian Orthodox Church became one of the first major institutions to deliver large-scale assistance. On Tuesday, the Church of St. Paraskeva the Serbian in Câmpina received 17,250 liters of bottled drinking water, provided on the initiative of Patriarch Daniel. The relief effort was organized with the support of the Archdiocese of Bucharest and the Chivotul Mare society, according to Trinitas TV.

“We are going through very difficult days. The Church always shares the pain of the people and must stand with them,” said Archpriest Grigore Melnik of Câmpina in an interview with Trinitas TV. He noted that conditions are especially severe in towns where residents lack private wells. Local media report that bottled water has disappeared from store shelves, while firefighting trucks have been deployed to distribute non-potable water for household use.

Authorities warn that the drinking water supply may not be restored until next week, and experts caution that further disruptions could occur in 2026. Ongoing issues with the dam, persistent turbidity, and long-standing technical faults mean that intermittent shortages may continue for several months.