site.btaPleven Crisis Headquarters Reviews Water Shortage Measures

Regional Governor Martin Machev chaired the seventh session of the regional crisis headquarters in Pleven on Friday, where measures to tackle the area's water shortage were reviewed.

During the meeting, Dolna Mitropoliya Municipal Council Chair Petar Petrov said that maintenance of the local water supply network is ongoing, with minor incidents being promptly dealt with and no serious issues reported.

Pleven Mayor Valentin Hristov reported that drilling near Todorovo has finished in the past week, and construction of a new borehole will soon begin near Kushin. He added that seven water supply projects for the region have been approved in recent amendments to Bulgaria’s national budget, and work will proceed once the changes are published in the State Gazette, followed by tendering procedures.

Chair of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Water Utility Company Lozko Lozev said that the recent commissioning of the Kozhuharska Spring borehole has helped the water supply system. This has improved hydraulic performance in the area and decreased reliance on external water supplies from the three Cherni Osam pumping stations.

After periods of heavy rainfall, authorities monitor incoming water quality to control turbidity. Local sources currently provide 600 litres per second, enabling selection of the highest quality supply. Until the mountain water meets quality standards, water from better local sources will be used. All available water supplied to Pleven’s system will be distributed to residents, Lozev said.

Irrigation Systems, Middle Danube branch, presented updates on reservoir levels and current water supply. As of now, Sopot Reservoir is at 40% capacity, while Gorni Dabnik Reservoir is at 35% of its limited volume. Water is still being distributed to the Krushevitsa and Dolna Mitropoliya supply groups.

Tsvetelin Pavlov from the Danube River Basin Directorate said that additional water volumes from the Vit River are being considered for Dolna Mitropoliya’s irrigation ditches, using an existing pumping station.

It was also announced that since the start of the year, ten pre-trial proceedings have been launched in connection with unauthorized connections to the water network.

The next meeting of the crisis headquarters is scheduled for October 10.

Citizens in Pleven Region have staged repeated demonstrations over the past year against the long-running water supply crisis. Protesters demand urgent replacement of the main water pipeline and restoration of supply, as well as transparency in the use of local water resources. The Municipal Council has held extended hearings with experts and citizens, but no lasting solution has yet been reached.