Water Shortage in Bulgaria: 160,000 People Affected

Currently in the country, approximately 160,000 people are affected by water shortages, shared Mladen Shishkov, Chairman of the Environment and Water Commission in the National Assembly. He also chairs the Temporary Commission, whose task is to establish all facts and circumstances related to the problems of water scarcity in the country. Shishkov took part in the discussion panel "Measures and solutions to slow down climate change: How to save water", held within the framework of the Annual Meeting of local authorities, organized by the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) in the Albena resort complex.

According to official data, cited by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, 2.5% of the Bulgarian population currently suffers from a lack of water. Shishkov emphasized that about three weeks ago, before the intense rainfall, the peak of those affected reached 310,000 people, which represented just under 5% of the population. Shishkov added that on a global scale, according to UN data, about 3.2 billion people worldwide are facing the same problem.

"Why am I saying this? I'm not saying it to reassure ourselves. Not at all. But I think we need to be clear when we use the word "crisis", what the scale is. At the present moment, 2.5% of the population suffers from water scarcity. But this should by no means reassure us. On the contrary, we must make every effort to ensure that not a single person in the country suffers from water scarcity, because there are prerequisites for this," Shishkov was categorical. He pointed out that despite this, there is enough water in the country, but its management needs to be improved.

According to Shishkov, one of the main roots of the problem is fragmentation. This is about division in the regulatory framework, ownership, management, and distribution of responsibility. According to the MP, this is the main reason Bulgaria is on the list of countries experiencing problems with water supply. He stressed that this problem has been inherited and has been deepening over the years.

Another significant factor that Shishkov pointed out is climate change. However, he warned that they should not serve as a universal excuse for the problems with water scarcity. "Climate change is a fact and we are obliged to adapt to it as soon as possible," stated the MP.

Shishkov also identified the outdated water supply network as another serious problem. He pointed out that approximately 65% of the network is made of asbestos-cement pipes, and about 15% of steel, which means that 80% of the network is morally obsolete. Shishkov also emphasized the reduction of the flow rates of water sources. He added that the problems in management, as well as the administrative difficulties faced by many water and sewerage companies, also have an impact. Shishkov also noted the culture of water consumption as an additional factor.