Bulgaria Steps Up Danube Monitoring Amid Persistently Low Water Levels
Jerusalem, 26 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Sofia (BTA) – Bulgaria’s Environment and Water Ministry is stepping up monitoring of the Danube River amid persistently low water levels, the ministry said Wednesday.
Monitoring of water quality in the Bulgarian section of the river, as well as in groundwater connected to the Danube, began as soon as the lower water levels were identified, the ministry said. The Danube Region Basin Directorate in Pleven reviewed and analyzed available data from regular monitoring of surface and groundwater. It also analyzed results through the end of July 2026 from the Danube River’s transnational monitoring network.
Samples were collected at five monitoring points: near the village of Novo Selo, before the Iskar River joins the Danube near the village of Baikal, after Svishtov, before Ruse and at the port of Silistra. The results showed no unusual deviations from the standards for good water quality, the ministry said.
Despite the initial analysis showing no deterioration in water quality, the Environment Ministry and the Danube Region Basin Directorate are taking additional preventive measures. The scope of monitoring is being expanded, the ministry added.
Two investigative monitoring programmes have been developed, one covering the Danube’s surface waters and the other covering groundwater hydraulically connected to the river. This will allow additional potential sources of impact to be monitored and provide a more comprehensive assessment of water conditions amid the continuing low water levels.
The Danube monitoring programme covers the five points in the transnational monitoring network, as well as additional sites selected based on significant discharge points and the location of groundwater abstraction facilities used for drinking and domestic water supply. The groundwater monitoring programme includes water abstraction facilities drawing from Quaternary alluvial aquifers in the Danube lowlands.
The programmes will be carried out by the Executive Environment Agency. Two rounds of sampling are planned: the first between August 26 and September 3, 2026, and the second between September 14 and 23, 2026. Once the results are available, the Basin Directorate in Pleven will prepare a comprehensive analysis and provide timely updates on the current state of the water, the ministry said.
Earlier Wednesday, the Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River reported that over the previous 24 hours, water levels in the Bulgarian section of the Danube had stabilized, with only a minimal increase.
