Topical Information

On 13 January 2026, a meeting of the National Water Board was held at the Council of Ministers. Participating in the meeting were the mayors of Bolyarovo (Hristo Hristov), Elhovo (Petar Gendov), and the village of Rudarci (Panteley Yankov), who presented cases concerning disrupted water supply in their communities and possible solutions to the identified problems.

As a member of the Board, the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NSORB) proposed including on the agenda the issue of the poor operational condition of the main “Voden – Elhovo” water pipeline and the need to find a sustainable solution to the water supply problems in both municipalities.

The proposal was added to the meeting agenda following a letter from the mayors of Elhovo and Bolyarovo, addressed to NSORB and the Board’s chair, highlighting the critical condition of the pipeline, which was built in 1958.

“The two municipalities have made maximum efforts over the years, using various funding sources, to replace the internal water supply network in all settlements along the route. Despite this, serious water supply problems remain, as the main pipeline itself has not been renovated since its construction,” said NSORB Executive Director Silvia Georgieva.

According to her, a significant portion of the settlements are still under water restrictions, and the facility requires a full reconstruction, which cannot be carried out without project documentation. Bolyarovo Mayor Hristo Hristov emphasized the social importance of the issue.

“The pipeline supplies two municipal centers and a total of eight settlements, affecting nearly 15,000 people. The municipality has fully replaced three pipelines in the settlements and is currently working on a fourth, with preparations for a fifth. Despite these efforts, the main pipeline is in extremely poor condition. The flow in winter is about 80 liters per second, but in summer it drops by half,” Hristov said, adding that replacing the main pipeline would resolve a longstanding water supply problem in the region.

Elhovo Mayor Petar Gendov also highlighted frequent breakdowns. He noted that the municipality primarily receives water from Voden and Sharkovo, but along the route alone, 25 failures were recorded in one month, further worsening water supply to residents.

The Board’s chair stated that all parties should take serious responsibility for the Strandzha-Sakar region, as it is one of the fastest depopulating areas in the country.

“Ensuring access to clean drinking water, a basic necessity, should not be a matter of debate but a right for citizens,” added Zafirov.

Representatives of “Bulgarian Water Utilities Holding” noted that the problem has been known for years. “We alerted the Council of Ministers in 2024 about the pipeline’s condition. About 28 km of it are in critical state. Under the Operational Programme Environment, 11 km have been renewed, but the rest also requires reconstruction,” said Irena Georgieva-Deneva, Executive Board Member of ViK Holding.

According to her, there are currently insufficient funds in the water sector for a full renovation, with financing mainly dependent on the state budget.

As a result of the discussion, the National Water Board tasked “Bulgarian Water Utilities Holding” JSC with analyzing the condition of the “Voden – Elhovo” main pipeline and proposing concrete measures to address the problems, including options for securing necessary financing. The findings are to be presented by 23 January.

Amendments to the Rules for the Organization of the National Water Board were adopted in connection with Council of Ministers Decision № 842 of 2025. This includes the possibility, at the chair’s discretion, for representatives of NGOs and sectoral organizations to participate in meetings. The frequency of meetings will now be at least monthly. The Board’s functions are expanded to include reviewing and proposing management plans for activities related to the permanent protection of riverbeds and banks.

The meeting also discussed the Yovkovtsi Reservoir, including reports of tree cutting and plans for a photovoltaic power plant. Responsible authorities confirmed that no mass logging is occurring in the sanitary-protection zone and that all permits were issued in compliance with regulations. It was emphasized that prolonged drought due to climate change remains the main factor affecting water availability in the area.

At the request of Rudarci Village Mayor Panteley Yankov, the Board considered the long-standing water supply problems in the village of Rudarci, Pernik Municipality. He stressed the urgent need for a sustainable, long-term solution, including a full analysis of the water supply system and concrete investment and organizational measures.

The Board requested that information on the pipeline’s condition be provided and concrete decisions be made by 22 February.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy Natalia Efremova presented the “Employment Without Barriers” measure, funded under the Human Resources Development Programme and co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus. The programme is implemented by the Employment Agency.

The measure provides over €40 million to municipalities and municipal enterprises to hire unemployed individuals to support local authorities in disaster prevention and mitigation activities. Jobs will primarily target the long-term unemployed and other vulnerable groups in the labor market.

The National Water Board meeting highlighted a clear commitment to coordinated and timely actions by the state, municipalities, and responsible institutions to find sustainable solutions to critical water supply issues.