• The document “Bulgaria’s Water Crises” sets out recommendations to be used in the development of a long-term national water management policy

"Bulgaria's Water Crises – Analysis and Solutions" is an analytical report prepared by Minister of Environment and Water Yulian Popov in collaboration with Deputy Minister Petar Dimitrov in response to the need for a comprehensive review of the state of water resources, the water supply and sanitation sector, irrigation, and the impact of climate change on Bulgaria’s water balance, with the aim of developing a long-term national water management policy.

The document examines the water crisis in Bulgaria as a complex systemic problem, rather than a collection of isolated incidents or temporary difficulties. It is based on the understanding that climate change increases pressure on water resources but cannot serve as an excuse for the accumulated structural weaknesses in the sector’s management. On the contrary, it is precisely under conditions of climate-related pressure that the consequences of years of underfunding, lack of reliable information, institutional fragmentation, weakened oversight, and a deficit of competent management capacity become most visible.

The report aims to outline the main dimensions of the problem, demonstrate the links between water supply, irrigation, water quality, drinking water quality, river health, groundwater, soil condition, climate change, and institutional governance, and propose a basis for profound reform.

“A new model of water policy is needed in Bulgaria—a model that prioritizes water supply security, sustainable resource management, modern infrastructure, data transparency, ecosystem health, and clear accountability for results,” the authors state. According to them, the management model must be based on a real and constantly updated water balance, mandatory metering, and digital monitoring, long-term investment programs, modernization of water supply and sewerage and irrigation infrastructure, better use of rainwater, and stronger protection of rivers and groundwater.

The analysis shows that in the water and sanitation sector, formal coverage with water supply services is nearly omnipresent, but total water losses exceed 60%. In many parts of the country, the condition of the network is critical, and small and remote settlements are particularly vulnerable.

The report also devotes special attention to irrigation. It notes that since 1990, Bulgaria has lost most of its operational irrigation system, and currently only a small portion of its capacity is actually utilized.

According to the authors, the main problem is not a lack of water, but the lack of a functioning, modern, and well-managed system.

The document outlines five fundamental principles on which comprehensive reform in the water sector must be based—reliable data, strong governance, depoliticization, infrastructure modernization, and climate change adaptation - but it also places special emphasis on protecting water quality, restoring ecosystems, and improving the sector’s resource and energy efficiency.

“Water must be treated as a strategic resource, not as a sectoral technical problem. Without deep reform, Bulgaria will continue to lose water, time, and economic opportunities,” states the document.

In conclusion, the authors outline 15 recommendations, including the depoliticization of water and sanitation companies, linking funding to measurable results, stricter oversight and transparency, the development of public data systems, wider use of nature-based solutions, and better coordination among institutions.

The Ministry of Environment and Water submitted the report to the relevant institutions and proposed that its recommendations be used in the development of a long-term national water management policy.