site.btaPernik Water Supply to Be Rationed as from November 18

November 14 (BTA) - Water supply
in Pernik Municipality will be rationed as from November 18
because the area's principal water source, the Studena Dam, has
been critically drained by a long-drawn draught. Rationing is
inevitable at this point, Mayor Stanislav Vladimirov said,
specifying that running water will be on from 8:00 pm to 8:00
am.

Water sources alternative to Studena are being sought in an
effort to mitigate the shortage, including extraordinary supply
from the 4.7 million cu m Dolna Dikanya Dam, reopening an intake
 in Pernik's Daratsite residential area, and increasing the
water for Pernik from the Vladaya Channel.

The water in Studena is fit for human consumption, according to
the head of the dam's water treatment plant. However, the
quality of the water is deteriorating with the ongoing depletion
 of the reservoir. Vladimirov said he will ask for urgent
financing to complete the repair of the water treatment plant,
which will also help cut drinking water consumption. He added
that he had been assured that the Government will allocate the
necessary funds.

In a related development, the Stomana Industry SA steel
manufacturer (which uses 160,000 cu m of water monthly, of which
 half came from Studena) and Pernik's district heating company
have switched to alternative supply from the River Struma, their
 managers told BTA. Water supply from the dam to both
enterprises was suspended on November 1.

Speaking on National Radio on Thursday, Vladimirov blamed the
local water utility for the present situation. In his previous
capacity as Socialist MP, he warned the Government of the
impending crisis back two and a half months ago, but nothing was
 done to address the issue, he pointed out. The Mayor expects
the Prime Minister to intervene and those responsible for
causing an ordeal to so many people to be punished.

At the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Regional Development and
Public Works Minister Petya Avramova said that a working team
had already been formed to analyze the situation and propose
solutions. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov ordered ministers to
synchronize and expedite the effort to tackle the crisis. RY/BR


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