Water crisis in Pleven worsens due to losses and outdated infrastructure

Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Atanas Kostadinov blamed water network losses near 80 percent for the crisis affecting Pleven. He told News.bg that failures to complete major projects, such as the Cherni Osam dam, left the region vulnerable after years without proper maintenance.

Kostadinov said 21 urgent actions spanning short and long timeframes could address the shortage. He noted that Bulgarians tend to delay organizing solutions until crises force action. The deputy minister stated that irrigation dams did not cause drought conditions anywhere in the country.

Kostadinov addressed flooding damage in Tsarevo and Elenite from the previous month. He reported that basin authorities issued 7 assessments against building permits in Elenite before construction approvals were processed through administrative channels. Investigators will examine how developers obtained authorization despite official warnings.

The ministry cannot challenge building authority decisions but recognizes patterns of negligence and corruption behind the disasters. Climate change, combined with aging infrastructure and poor management, creates dangerous conditions. Officials ordered comprehensive coastal inspections and shared flood-risk maps with all institutions following the Elenite tragedy.