Water Supply Issues Plague 51 Bulgarian Municipalities
Published: August 10, 2024, 6:43 PM
In response to a parliamentary inquiry, the Bulgarian Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Violeta Koritarova, disclosed that 51 municipalities, encompassing 14 regions, are currently under water restrictions. Approximately 111,000 residents are affected by the disrupted supply. The measure has been partially implemented in seven cities, affecting over 24,000 residents. Additionally, 172 settlements face water scarcity, affecting 87,180 residents.
The Ministry receives weekly reports from water supply operators detailing settlements requiring water restrictions for domestic and drinking purposes. Potential short-term solutions under consideration include:
Researching and constructing new water sources for storage and supply systems in neighboring settlements.
Constructing dams.
* Reconstructing and rehabilitating water storage tanks, intake facilities, and pipelines.
Koritarova emphasized the need for local governments to limit non-essential water usage during periods of drought. While unpopular, this measure is deemed necessary to address the current crisis.
The minister highlighted the importance of prioritizing water resource management across all institutions. She stressed the need for significant investment in water and sanitation infrastructure, highlighting that only two dams have been built in the past 30 years.
Koritarova suggested utilizing the Investment Program for municipal projects to expedite water infrastructure rehabilitation and construction. Her vision is to implement a comprehensive solution through the construction of new water sources, including dams.
The minister emphasized the collaborative approach required to address the multifaceted water scarcity issue, urging municipalities to prioritize water-related projects within the Investment Program. She also highlighted the importance of developing a long-term strategy to tackle the problem.