• Deputy Minister Petar Dimitrov: A single water management authority and urgent measures to limit losses are needed

Climate change is already having a serious impact on water resources in Bulgaria and is leading to increasingly frequent extreme weather events. This was stated by Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Petar Dimitrov during the Plenary Session of the Economic and Social Council of the Republic of Bulgaria.

“Extreme weather events are occurring more and more frequently and we are all witnessing this in our daily lives. The question of what awaits us and how to adapt requires clear answers from the scientific community,” he stressed. According to him, a key element in finding solutions is access to data. Bulgaria has a significant amount of information, but it is not sufficiently accessible.

“One of our main goals is to introduce an open data model in a machine-readable format so that scientists can develop analyses and solutions for the future of the water sector,” said Deputy Minister Dimitrov. And he highlighted as a major problem in water management the fragmentation of responsibilities between different institutions, which hinders the effective management of the resource: “The solution is either significantly improving coordination or creating a single water management authority. This is a necessary step that we support.”

Petar Dimitrov also emphasized the need to modernize the sector by implementing new effective technologies, and not just rehabilitating the existing infrastructure. “Losses in the water supply network exceed 60%, and in some operators they reach over 90%. Even in areas with significant investments, they remain extremely high, which requires urgent and decisive measures,” he said.

Although drinking dams are relatively well filled, other water facilities – especially for irrigation – are in unsatisfactory condition. “The truth is that there is water in Bulgaria, but it does not reach the people due to inefficient water transport infrastructure,” Dimitrov emphasized. He warned that the risk of water crises will be felt most strongly during the summer months, especially in settlements without sufficient water storage facilities.

Deputy Minister Dimitrov expressed the position of the Ministry of Environment and Water that the Council's opinion on "Sustainable Water Management in the Republic of Bulgaria" is thorough and in line with current European and global policies and clearly outlines the main problems, offering effective solutions for the water sector in Bulgaria.