site.btaWater in Six Villages in Dimitrovgrad Municipality Has Elevated Alpha Radiation

Water in Six Villages in Dimitrovgrad Municipality Has Elevated Alpha Radiation

Haskovo, Southern Bulgaria, May 16 (BTA) - Elevated alpha radiation has been detected in the drinking water in six villages in Dimitrovgrad Municipality, said Chief State Health Inspector Angel Kounchev in Haskovo on Monday. He was participating in an open meeting with representatives of an ad hoc parliamentary committee, mayors and experts to establish potential and specific cases of water contamination, their causes and the consequences for the health of the public.

From Tuesday, the use of tap water for drinking and cooking will be banned in these villages, said Sonya Dimitrova, head of the Regional Health Inspectorate in Haskovo. Dimitrovgrad Mayor Ivo Dimov said that measures are taken to supply with water the affected villages.

The 14 wells in Haskovo with worsened indicators will be drained and fresh samples will be taken to test for natural uranium and alpha radiation, the meeting decided. Water experts suggested drilling for new wells and the construction of a new pipe network. The government has allocated nearly two million leva to tackle the crisis, said GERB MP Delyan Dobrev.