The problem of water shortage in Northern Bulgaria is deepening. After Pleven and Lovech, it is already on a water regime - from 23:00 to 6:00 in the morning, the city remains without water, and in one of the neighborhoods the restrictions are from 23:30 to 6:30 in the morning. The reason is a depreciated main water supply, built in 1969, whose service life expired in 2019.
According to Mayor Stratsimir Petkov, over 200 accidents have been registered this year alone. "There is not a day without a breakdown. Often, five or eight more are discovered after one accident," he explained.
Although the municipality is gradually replacing the internal water supply network - about 70% have already been renovated. Lovech depends on the main water supply for 90%. "If it is not replaced in the next five years, the city could fall into an extremely severe crisis," Petkov warned BTV.
According to preliminary calculations, replacing the route could cost over 200 million leva. For now, old technology is being used - the holes are plugged with wooden wedges and metal plates.
The municipality is urging the state to speed up the preparation of projects for a new route and provide financing.
In the meantime, Lovech is expecting rains to ease the regime. "Two consecutive days of heavy rainfall could help us get out of it", said Petkov.
Currently, water losses in the internal network are around 50%, and forecasts do not predict an improvement soon.