The environment quality monitoring carried out by the State Hydrometeorology Service shows that the lakes and rivers in Moldova become more polluted every year. The maximum admissible concentrations of chemical compounds were exceeded in 117 of the water samples taken from 12 rivers, two accumulation ponds (Ghidighici and Dubasari), and two lakes (Beleu and Manta), Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the Service, the concentrations of ammonium ions, nitrates, nitrites and oil products are higher than allowed in the rivers Prut, Nistru, Byk, Raut, Lunga, Ichel, Botna, Cogylnic, the pond Ghidighici, and the lakes Beleu and Manta. Copper compounds were found in the Prut, while zinc compounds– in the Raut. The water of the Byk has a low content of oxygen in the section going along the municipality of Chisinau. The most polluted lake in Chisinau is the lake in the Rascani park. But specialists say swimming is recommended in none of the Chisinau lakes. The tests showed that the condition of the Byk is the worst. “It was established that the entropic activity has seriously affected the ecosystem of the river, especially near the water treatment station in Chisinau,” said Vladimir Garaba, president of the Chisinau Organization of the Ecologist Movement of Moldova. “The river is extremely polluted. Dozens of pipes convey residual water with huge quantities of toxic substances from industrial companies to the river. The concentrations of pollutants in the river exceed the sanitary norms 10-20 times, destroying the ichtiofauna” Garaba said. Valentina Tapis, of the State Ecological Inspectorate, considers that the local authorities bear the greatest responsibility for the pollution of the rivers and lakes as they do not adequately fulfill their obligations towards the communities. “Practically all the villages lack solid waste collection services so that the bottoms of the rivers and lakes are often transformed into unauthorized dumps,” she said. About 1 million people liver in the basin of the Byk, 80% of whom in urban areas.