site.btaEnvironment Ministry to Sign Contracts Worth BGN 800 Mln with Seven Water Companies

On Monday, the Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) will sign contracts with seven water supply and sewerage companies for repairs to water infrastructure networks worth approximately BGN 800 million, Environment and Water Minister Manol Genov told the Bulgarian National Radio on Sunday.

Genov explained that the contracts will be signed with the water companies in the regional centres of Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Pleven, Sofia, Targovishte, Haskovo, and Dobrich. The funds will be allocated evenly—50% for water supply networks and 50% for wastewater collection and treatment. He added that these measures are expected to significantly reduce water losses along the pipelines.

Regarding water reserves, the minister stated that the country’s key reservoirs are being closely monitored, and institutional efforts are focused on ensuring a balanced distribution of water resources.

Addressing concerns about air pollution in major cities and opinions that air quality monitoring stations are located far from the most polluted urban areas, Genov stated that the MoEW will reassess the issue. He noted that 20 monitoring stations will be replaced, and an additional 40 mobile stations will be deployed nationwide.

Speaking specifically about air quality issues in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city, the minister said that while the city’s municipal administration could face fines or sanctions, such measures would not improve the air quality. Instead, he emphasized that local authorities must take serious action to identify pollution sources and improve air quality.