site.btaNearly 3% of Bulgaria's Population Suffered Water Restrictions in 2022, Water Losses Totalled 853 Mln cu m

In 2022, 2.78% of the country's population suffered water restrictions due to water shortage (drought), mostly seasonal. The most affected districts are Lovech (24.9%), Targovishte (19%), Blagoevgrad (14.8%) and Pernik (12.9%).

The data are from a publication of the National Statistical Institute (NSI) "Environment 2022". It includes information from statistical surveys related to the environment for the period 2017 - 2022. The publication is free and available in electronic format, the NSI said on its website on Friday.

In 2022, the total amount of water used is 4.7 billion cu m, increasing by 1.8% compared to 2021.

Water for cooling processes in the energy sector accounts for the largest share of water use (80% of water used), increasing by 2.8% compared with 2021. This water is mostly self-supplied and is typically returned to the water source after use.

Water used for crop irrigation in 2022 is 300.6 million cu m.

The public water utilities supply drinking water to 99.5% of the country's population. The total length of the water supply network operated by water utilities is 77,525 km. The water supplied is 251 million cu m, or 103 litres per person per day on average. The highest water consumption is in households in the districts of Sofia - capital - 125 litres per person per day, Blagoevgrad - 122 litres per person per day, Kyustendil - 117 litres per person per day, and Burgas - 111 litres per person per day. The least water is used in the districts of Sliven and Targovishte - 72 litres per person per day, and Kardzhali - 79 litres per person per day.

Losses in the water supply sector (water supply and irrigation systems) in 2022 are estimated at 853 million cubic meters.

In 2022, fresh water resources per person in Bulgaria were estimated at 11,278 cu m on average, including Danube water and other external inflow, and 1,962 cu mwithout. According to the UN World Water Development Report, a country experiences "water stress" when annual water resources fall below 1,700 cu m per inhabitant.