site.bta5.8% of Bulgaria’s Population Lived under Water Supply Restrictions in 2024 due to Shortages

A total of 5.8% of Bulgaria’s population was subject to water supply restrictions in 2024 because of water shortages, according to data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI).

In 2024, 5.8% of the population was under water supply rationing due to insufficient water, according to figures from NSI’s survey Environment – 2024. Of these, 5% were on seasonal restrictions (up to 180 days), while 0.8% were on year-round restrictions (over 180 days). The most affected regions were Lovech (56.3%), Pleven (51.1%), Targovishte (33.8%) and Sliven (17.8%), measured as the share of the population in each region living under a water regime.

A reference to NSI data shows that in 2023, 4.6% of the country’s population had been subject to water supply restrictions due to shortages.

In 2024, 99.5% of the population was connected to public water supply systems. Water delivered to households amounted to 260.32 million cubic metres, which is 4% more than in 2023, NSI data also show.

In 2024, 75.4% of the population was connected to public sewerage systems, and 67.6% was connected to sewerage leading to wastewater treatment plants. A total of 182 municipal wastewater treatment plants were in operation, along with 78,803 kilometres of public water supply network and 13,362 kilometres of public sewerage network.