• Minister Manol Genov ordered the Basin Directorate - Varna to check whether the investment intentions in the Elenite region are coordinated

The Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) is taking measures at the national and regional level in response to the intense rainfall. The measures are in connection with a warning issued by the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) for today - October 3, of the first and second degree (yellow and orange code) for expected significant rainfall.

Already yesterday, the MOEW sent notifications to all ministries, regional governors, and the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria about the expected rainfall. Additional information was sent to the Ministry of Interior, regional governors and the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria about the risky areas with reduced conductivity, identified during the inspections of the interdepartmental commissions.

Today, during a briefing at the Council of Ministers meeting, the Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov gave more information regarding the crisis situation on the Black Sea Coast. "In the Elenite region, the intense rain has caused the Kozluka ravine to overflow. There is no river there, but several dry ravines. I have ordered an inspection of the Black Sea Region Basin Directorate to determine whether the investment intentions implemented in the region are coordinated," said Minister Manol Genov.

Back in early February, the Minister of Environment and Water presented a report on river sections with reduced conductivity for 2024 at an operational meeting of the Council of Ministers. It presents all sections on the territory of the country whose conductivity is impaired. It is recommended that the conductivity be ensured and that trees, bushes, construction and household waste be promptly cleaned by the responsible institutions, namely regional governors, mayors and Irrigation Systems EAD. The report also contains information on the terrain with impaired conductivity on the territory of Tsarevo.

The four Basin Directorates on the territory of the country have been notified to have readiness to take measures if necessary in the current situation of heavy rainfall. In the first half of 2025, the Basin Directorates carried out 833 inspections of river sections and channels located after dam walls. As of June 30 this year, 507 sections with impaired conductivity were identified. In most cases, cleaning is necessary to restore the normal conductivity of the sections, for which a permit regime under the Water Act does not apply and specialized equipment and very large funds are not required.

As of October 3, the available impounded volumes in the complex and significant dams show that the dams for drinking and domestic water supply are filled with 61.95% of their total volume, with an increase reported in 30 of them. The irrigation dams are filled by 27.42%, with the levels remaining stable in five of them, and those for energy reaching 63.87%. The Borovitsa, Pchelina, and Krichim dams are over 90% full. The Pchelina dam is overflowing, but without danger to the population and infrastructure. The free volumes are sufficient to absorb the expected water inflow.

The monthly schedule for the use of waters of the complex and significant dams in October includes specific preventive conditions that guarantee maintenance of the conductivity of the river beds after the hydrotechnical facilities. The schedule includes instructions for immediate notification to the Ministry of Environment and Water and the East Aegean Region Basin Directorate in the event of discharge of quantities exceeding 300 cubic meters per second from the Ivaylovgrad dam, as well as the mandatory use of all relief facilities in the country. The discharge of waters should take into account the conductivity of the river beds. If necessary, it is allowed to include and exclude collecting derivations and water intakes according to changes in hydrometeorological conditions and the incoming inflow in order to safely conduct water quantities and protect against the harmful effects of water.

Current information on the meteorological situation is published on the websites of the Ministry of Environment and Water and the National Institute of Hydrology and Meterology.