Rising number of water restrictions in Bulgaria amid soaring temperatures
The number of places in Bulgaria subject to water restrictions is increasing every day, climate change expert Georgi Stefanov told Bulgarian National Radio on August 14.
On August 13, the water supply utility in Lovech announced on its website that because of the continuing drought and significant reduction of water supply, water restrictions were being introduced in Teteven municipality.
A ban has been introduced on using drinking water for watering green areas, washing balconies, streets and motor vehicles.
In Teteven, water supply is cut off daily from 10.30pm to 6am.
Similarly, the water supply utility in Pleven announced that water supply was insufficient for Pleven, the towns of Dolna Mitropolia and Trustenik, and 11 villages in the area.
Water supply is suspended daily from 11pm to 5am. The announcement added that if the water flow from the Cherni Osum becomes critically low, it may be necessary to also suspend water supply from 1pm to 4pm.
BNR Bourgas reported that in Bolyarovo municipality, a water tanker vehicle was being used to supply water.
The municipality also has a ban on using drinking water for irrigation, watering green areas, washing streets, motor vehicles and balconies.
On the agenda for the August 14 meeting of Bulgaria’s caretaker government was a decision to provide bottled water from the State Reserve in response to a request from the mayor of Svishtov in connection with the disaster declared in the Ovcha Mogila village.
Stefanov told BNR: “What we see as a problem at the moment with Lovech and Pleven – the reduced flow of surface water is something that is happening in nearly 92 municipalities to date.
“Twenty-four districts of Bulgaria, 297 settlements are currently suffering from water restrictions. In reality, there are also much more, because there are also those with partial water restrictions. They are increasing every day,” Stefanov said.
He said that climate change led to the peak in wildfires.
“Let’s not forget that August and September are the two driest months , with the least rainfall of the year. We may yet witness even more critical situations and more extreme problems related to water shortages, with fires, and please God not, the impossibility of providing water to extinguish these fires.”
He said that the management of water resources needs to be re-planned, including not cutting down forests in catchment areas.
Currently, 15 per cent of Bulgaria’s population was affected by the water supply problem and if there was another year of drought, this would rise to 50 per cent, he said.
(Photo: Ivan Prole/sxc.hu)
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