The Ministry of Environment and Waters (MOEW) is conducting continuous and comprehensive monitoring of possible environmental damage in the Bulgarian Black Sea area following the destruction of the wall of the Nova Kakhovka dam, located on the Dnieper River in Ukraine.

According to the summarized data from the analyses, which included the current weather forecast until June 24 by the Center for Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Monitoring at the Naval Academy “N. Y. Vaptsarov” and satellite observations, there is no evidence of pollution in the Bulgarian Black Sea area.

The data sent by the Institute of Space Research and Technology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences to the Black Sea Basin Directorate about the Black Sea area around Odessa also does not point to any pollution.

On June 20, the Black Sea Basin Directorate and the Regional Laboratory - Varna of the Executive Environmental Agency (EEA) carried out the weekly monitoring of the quality of coastal sea waters from three coastal sites - Durankulak, Shabla, and Kaliakra. Additional indicators have been added to the monitoring carried out so far to monitor the potential impact of the Dnieper River waters on the Black Sea.

The location of the sites takes into account coastal accessibility, the direction of the dominant currents, and the bathymetric data available for the area. The potential risk of pollution of the marine environment due to military activities is monitored. The presence of petroleum products, metals, the radionuclides caesium-137 and tritium are monitored and additional indicators (pesticides, etc.) are included in response to the unfolding situation. To date, no excess quantities have been detected for any of the indicators tracked.

The status of not only coastal but also water currents out in the sea is being monitored. Monitoring of the status of marine waters is coordinated with the Ministry of Tourism with a view to ensuring a peaceful tourist season.

The sampling frequency is sufficient to make an objective assessment of the present state of marine waters. The results will be made available to the competent authorities in due time, in accordance with the time required to analyse the indicators determined on-site.

The MOEW exchanges information on a daily basis with the Ukrainian, Moldovan, and Romanian authorities on potential pollution in Black Sea waters.

The role of the MOEW is to monitor and inform the institutions responsible for the prevention of and response to identified risks. Up-to-date information on the results from the measurements will be provided to the competent institutions and the public in due course.

Signals in cases of possible signs of pollution along the coastline can be submitted to the Green Phone of the Ministry of Environment and Water: 0887 088 440 or 02/9888205, as well as to e-mail address: nccw@moew.government.bg, and also to the Green Phone of the Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection - Varna: 0884 290 634 or 052/634 582, Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection - Burgas: 0889 096 577 or 056/813 212, and Basin Directorate Black Sea Region - Varna. 0886 406 816.