Pleven's water was polluted during the construction of the "South Stream" gas pipeline, but it did not enter the city. This was stated at a press conference by Emil Dimitrov, former Minister of Environment and Water (2020 - 2021) in the "Borisov 3" office, quoted by BTA.
"Nobody is scaring people now with something from 2020, but even then, when it was, we managed to prevent it", he commented.
"Was the water polluted and was it dangerous – categorically yes, did it enter the city – "absolutely not," said Dimitrov.
He said that there is no such water anymore, since the water source of these wells was blocked during the construction of the gas pipeline.
The former minister explained that the company, which was supposed to pass a probe under the river, reaching a specific meter, could not continue because the bentonite, emulsions and polymers, which are pumped under pressure together with the probe, flow into the water body and go down to the wells.
He added that after that this method was discontinued and a trench was made across the river, and the bentonite was buried. According to him, after pressure from him, the bentonite was found buried, and the discovered quantities were deposited.
The only water in the city at the moment is from the "Dolni Dabnik" dam, explained Dimitrov.
"At the moment, they are pouring water from the dam around the wells to get inside. By New Year's, 15 million cubic meters had been poured in, of which 5 million had entered and been sent to the city," he added.
Dimitrov suggested that the existing pipe from the dam, which now has a diversion and is used to fill the wells around the wells in Krushovitsa, where groundwater no longer comes or comes very little, be fitted with a module that would purify it, and that clean water would enter the city.
Those who built the gas pipeline are indebted to the city, it was nice to return the gesture, Dimitrov commented.
"We also talked about having several exploratory drillings done before the gas pipeline and transferring it to the operating facilities with a pipe," he added.