Only four types of the 50 models of water meters that were approved for utilization eight years ago remained in use. A private enterprise and three limited liability companies have a share of 90% of the meters market. The transactions performed by them totaled more than 900 million lei during eight years, the former director of the National Metrology and Standardization Institute Igor Caldare said in a news conference on April 28, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Igor Caldare, the water metering schemes used to cheat the population come second after the illegal privatization schemes. He also said that the interests of certain companies that want to obtain the right to supply water meters in Moldova are promoted by nepotism and influence peddling. Moreover, a part of the meters are assembled in Moldova, but sold as Italian products. These companies have profitability of 300-400%, Igor Caldare said. He specified he was discharged from the post of director because he tried to reveal these schemes and institute a new procedure for importing water meters, without intermediaries. The former director of the National Metrology and Standardization Institute gave an example of a fraudulent scheme. According to him, in 2005 the director of a company submitted a meter proposal to the metrology division of the Ministry of Economy. The official in charge, who turned out to be a relative of the director, forwarded the proposal to the vice director of the National Metrology and Standardization Institute, who is the same company director. The latter set up a commission chaired by him and signed all the documents instead of the Institute's director, Caldare said, presenting those documents with the signatures and stamp. Igor Caldare said that political figures favor such schemes, but refused to give names. The political protectionism is one of the reasons why these illegalities cannot be stopped. According to him, neither the Center for Combating Corruption and Economic Crime investigates such cases though it has conclusive proofs. Igor Caldare also said that he will do everything possible to get at the truth. He stressed that half of the petitions lodged with the Consumer Protection Inspectorate concern the poor quality of the water meters.