The association “Moldova Apa-Canal” proposed punishing the consumers who do not obey the technical requirements when laying water pipes. After a record number of pipes got frozen this winter, it decided to prepare a legislative initiative in this respect, Info-Prim Neo reports. In a news conference on March 14, Iuri Nistor, executive director of “Moldova Apa-Canal”, said that whole streets remain without water after the pipe of one consumer freezes up and the supplier sustains huge losses for rehabilitating the system. Iuri Nistor said that in Ciadir Lunga district alone, the damage caused by frozen pipes totaled 400,000 lei. He stressed that every consumer must assume responsibility and remove the consequences when the technical norms are not respected and this thing should be stipulated in the contract signed with the supplier. Besides the large costs incurred for unfreezing the pipes, the water supplier faces additional risks. When the frozen water in pipes thaws, the pipes can yield up to pressure and the number of leakages increases. The freezing up of pipes can be prevented by the concerted effort of the supplier and the consumer. Experts recommend the consumers to lay the pipes at the required depth, thermally insulate the pipes and allow the water to flow continuously when the temperatures are low so as to prevent its freezing. About 2 500 branch pipes got frozen in the municipality of Chisinau as a result of the severe frost of January.