2024-08-15 11:52:40
“Pleven and Lovech can only count on the construction of additional alternative facilities. In the best case, the construction of a new dam, which was planned back in the 80s. There was such a project, which was stopped in the 90s,” this said the Acting Minister of Environment and Water, Petar Dimitrov, regarding the water crisis.
A water regime has been imposed in Pleven and Lovech due to the reduced flow of surface water.
Minister Dimitrov explained that nearly 69% is the filling of the dams, which are for drinking and domestic supply. “The MoES does not manage the dams, we manage the resource,” he explained to Nova TV.
“Lovech and Pleven are dependent on river catchment. Pleven has been on a regime since the 1980s. There is no dam there to regulate the runoff. The purpose of these dams is to regulate the runoff and remove the high waters in the spring time and release these waters, when there is a need in the summer,” he added.
According to him, the lack of water resources is a direct result of climate change.
“Here we need to use science and the scientific approach, as we are doing now,” said Dimitrov.
The minister stated that no water was released from the dams this spring.
“There were concerns from mayors and regional governors who were worried that the facilities would overflow. There is nothing wrong with such a facility overflowing, it is planned to overflow and the river will absorb this outflow,” said Dimitrov.
According to him, urgent measures should be taken to restore the water pipes and sewage in the settlements.