A national discussion forum, organized by the Bulgarian Water Association, put the large-scale challenges facing the water sector in the country under the spotlight. The Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Atanas Kostadinov delivered sharp criticism regarding the current state of water management, emphasizing the lack of effective coordination between institutions.
In his expert presentation, Kostadinov categorically stated that the integrated approach to water resource management is extremely underdeveloped. He pointed out several significant problems, including unclear regulations regarding water ownership, purpose, and management.
A key emphasis in his speech was the need for immediate inter-institutional cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and other responsible state structures.
Among the main challenges discussed was the non-implementation of the urban wastewater treatment directive. Kostadinov emphasized that the new European strategies set extremely ambitious goals with a horizon until 2050, including reducing water losses by at least 10 percent within the European Union.
The Chairman of the Bulgarian Water Association, Ivan Ivanov, added that an in-depth constructive dialogue is ahead before transposing the new directive. He metaphorically described the current state of the sector as a "poor student" in need of urgent improvement.
Iliyana Todorova from the Water Management Directorate at MOEW emphasized two strategic projects: transposing the revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and developing solutions for water reuse.
The forum, held in the Central Building of the Federation of Scientific and Technical Unions, brought together leading experts from various institutions, including representatives of the Water Supply and Sewerage Operators Union, Water Supply and Sewerage Holding, and the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission.
The main message of the event was clear: the water sector needs an urgent, coordinated, and large-scale transformation to ensure sustainable water resource management and compliance with European standards.