site.btaWater Supply Network in Pleven to Be Analyzed, Says Environment Minister

An analysis of the water supply network in the northern town of Pleven has been commissioned, with an emphasis on sections with large water losses which are in need of repair, caretaker Environment and Water Minister Petar Dimitrov said on bTV on Tuesday.

Dimitrov noted that a meeting with Pleven Mayor Valentin Hristov is planned for Wednesday at the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, because of all projects proposed by Pleven for funding with BGN 50 million by that Ministry, none is about repairing the water supply network despite a 70% water loss there. Dimitrov added that the problem with Pleven's water supply has been going on for more than 35 years, but for inexplicable reasons, the town twice failed to apply for funds under Operational Programme Environment.

According to Dimitrov, one of the problems is the disrupted connection between supply systems for drinking/household needs and irrigation systems, which could be an alternative source for towns like Pleven. In 2024, BGN 120 million was allocated to the Pleven Water and Sewerage Company for a new water cycle, but unfortunately only BGN 30 million of the funds went to the town.

He said other municipalities with a water shortage have not applied for financing either. Due to a water shortage, Lovech (North Central Bulgaria) will have water rationing during the day as well, the Lovech Water and Sewerage Company said on its website. The Minister stressed that even after repairs and a new water cycle in some places, water losses remain shocking. In Shumen (Northeastern Bulgaria), 83% of water is lost even after an implemented BGN 93 million project. He also cited Sliven and Pernik where the situation is similar. 

Dimitrov recalled that the Cherni Osam dam, which could be be an alternative water source for Pleven, Lovech and Troyan, was started in the late 1980s, but construction was halted by environmental protests. The Regional Development and Public Works Ministry is trying to update the project.

He said there is no water shortage in the settlements which are supplied with water from the 12 dams managed by the Environment and Water Ministry. Currently, they are filled to 62% of their capacity. Four dams are below 50%: the Ticha dam, which is the main water source for Shumen, Targovishte and Veliki Preslav, the Kamchia dam, which supplies water to Varna, Burgas and a large part of the Southern Black Sea coast, and the Yasna Polyana and Asenovets dams, which deliver water to Sliven.

Dimitrov stressed that Varna and Burgas are not likely to run out of water because the volumes in the Ticha dam can meet requirements until the end of 2025. Still, alternative options are being sought: while water supply from the dam to Varna was reduced due to the availability of alternative water abstraction facilities, this is not the case with Burgas and the Southern Black Sea coast.