site.btaEnvironment Minister Stresses Need for Balance and Infrastructure Repairs amid Water Supply Concerns

The most important thing is to achieve a balance in meeting water needs for both household and other purposes, Environment and Water Minister Manol Genov said during a hearing at the National Assembly on Thursday. The hearing was related to the need for urgent measures to address an expected drinking water supply crisis due to low rainfall levels and unfavourable drought forecasts for 2025, as well as long-standing issues in infrastructure and water services. The hearing, initiated by MPs from the parliamentary group of Movement for Rights and Freedoms – New Beginning, was also attended by Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Ivanov.

"It is expected that the spring and summer of 2025 will be relatively warm, with a probability of around 60-65%," Genov said. He stressed that in conditions of reduced water inflow into key reservoirs, the ministry's actions are focused on the balanced distribution of water resources. Genov reminded that restrictions have been introduced through regulatory schedules for reservoir usage from January 1, 2025, significantly reducing the water supplied to the energy sector and operators using it for irrigation.

The Environment and Water Ministry manages the use of water from 52 reservoirs out of a total of some 6,900 in the country, monitoring the volumes in key reservoirs daily. As of April 2, 2025, the total accumulated volume in key reservoirs stands at 3,612 million cubic meters, representing 55% of their total capacity. This accumulated volume is approximately 8% lower, year-on-year, reflecting the impact of the third consecutive very dry year in terms of water inflow, Genov explained.

In his words, currently, there is no populated area supplied by key reservoirs that is under water restrictions. According to him, despite climate-related factors, Bulgaria’s overall water resources are sufficient to meet the country's consumption. However, he warned that there is a significant waste of natural resources, and major losses, along with poorly maintained water supply networks and infrastructure, are among the main causes of water shortages.