site.btaFuture System to Monitor Iskur River

Future System to Monitor Iskur River

Sofia, December 19 (BTA) - The Iskur River in Western Bulgaria, its tributaries and the larger dams in its course will be monitored by a future water management system, the Environment and Water Ministry reported on Friday. The system will be built under a pilot project financed through the EU-backed Operational Programme "Environment 2014-2020."

The project can use up to 7 million leva in grant aid. The Iskur has been chosen for the purpose because it goes through areas with sizeable population (the Bulgarian capital Sofia is situated nearby) and numerous industrial plants. It is the longest river that lies entirely in Bulgaria's territory.

Stations will be built to monitor the river's water level, the amount of precipitation and the melting of snow. Information will also be collected from major dams. It will be fed into a cutting-edge centre, where a computer will process the data and will offer solutions. The system will warn the public not only of flooding hazards but also of potential drought. It will provide information via emergency call number 112.