site.btaWater Losses Mainly Due to Outdated Infrastructure

Water losses in the water supply and sewerage network are mainly due to the outdated infrastructure, Irena Georgieva, Executive Director of Bulgarian Water and Sewerage Holding, told BTA. According to the latest data, more than BGN 15 billion are needed to upgrade the overall infrastructure to meet modern European standards, she added. Her comments were made on the occasion of Friday's World Water Day. 

“In terms of physical water losses, we need to move towards consolidation in order to benefit from European funding,” Georgieva said. “I also urge the municipalities to get involved in the process of upgrading the water and sewerage infrastructure by applying for different funding,” she said. In her words, the renovation is unaffordable for the water utilities "who operate the water and sewerage network through the service they provide". They are commercial companies and any investment must be recovered through the price of water, Georgieva clarified. 

She said that holding applies for European programs for settlements with more than 10,000 inhabitants. The Environment OP is one of the programmes that invest significant resources to reduce water losses, Georgieva said. The Recovery and Resilience Plan provides the opportunity for additional investment in this area, she explained, and urged people to save water. 

"Water for Peace" is the motto of this year's World Water Day. The focus is on how water can create peace or cause conflict, the Environment Ministry said earlier.