The Regional Inspectorate for the Environment and Waters (RIOSV) – Sofia gave eight instructions to the Municipality of Pernik in connection with the pollution of the Struma River, which must be fulfilled by October 4, the Ministry of Environment and Water announced, quoted by BTA.
The orders are to stop the discharge of water from a metal pipe passing under the bridge of the “Distribution” station, to survey the route at the newly constructed shaft of the “water cycle”, to establish the ownership and to clean up the established sediments, for to notify RIOSV in writing – Sofia.
During the inspection carried out on September 27 by RIOS teams – Sofia, Basin Directorate “Western White Sea Region“ and the Executive Agency for the Environment, in connection with a reported pollution of the Struma near the city of Pernik, numerous sections along the river were visited, including all collectors and shafts for waste water of the enterprises, where no deposits or traces of leakage of leads with the color indicated in the signal.
Deposits of an orange-brown color were found along the bed of a ravine near the bridge of the “Distribution” station, where pipes were also found, about which the Waterworks and the Municipality do not provide information at the moment.
A source of unregulated release of large amounts colored in the specified orange-brown color of water formed during the excavations from the construction of stages of the “water cycle” of the city. During an inspection of the terrain along the river above the external highway of Pernik, an excavation with a newly constructed concrete shaft was found. A metal pipe passes over the shaft, which was broken as a result of the construction activities, and the compromised section was restored with a corrugated pipe. For the same, at the moment, the Waterworks and the Municipality of Pernik do not provide the necessary information about the purpose, the ownership or the available discharge permit.
The checks of the ecoinspection will continue, and the violations found have been reported to the Main Directorate of the National Police. in order to establish all the circumstances of the found pollution.
BTA recalls that the District Prosecutor's Office in Pernik started an investigation in connection with the pollution of the Struma River.