Another settlement with a water problem. Water crisis in the village of Ponor, which is located about 30 km from Sofia. People have been living without a central water supply for eight years now. They insist on a solution.
„This water doesn't reach anywhere. In this well, it collects surface water. It is not a drilling carried out by the Water and Sewerage Company, but these are wells that inherited them“, says Martin Kutarov.
„The water problem has always been on the scale. For 10 or more years we have not had water in the pipes. Everyone is coping as best they can“, adds Ekaterina.
Every resident has a water meter, a contract and a bill, but no water. People survive with personal water pumps and tanks. Everyone fights for access to drinking water on their own.
„I personally carry my water from about 20 km away, when I don't order a tanker, when it's expensive for me, I bring water here every day, in order to have a normal lifestyle“, says Martin Kutarov.
The Kostinbrod municipality says that in order to have water, a new water supply system must be built, but with 25 registered residents this is not possible.
„With this number of residents and the dispersion of properties, it is not possible to justify allocating funds for the design and construction of a water supply system with funds from the state budget or European funds. The same applies to investments in drilling studies – "There is no way to provide a public resource for such a small number of residents in the absence of economic and technical feasibility," the municipality said.
“If there is water, I will always live here“, Ahmed is categorical.
The residents of Ponor are ready to protest.