Bulgaria Welcomes World Water Day with 57% Water Losses

Jerusalem, 22 March, 2023 (TPS) -- SOFIA, 22.03.2023 (BTA)
Fifty-seven percent of the 872 million cubic meters of water supplied by the public water supply is lost in Bulgaria, according to data from the National Statistical Institute for 2021. Freshwater withdrawn was 5,212 million cubic meters, of which 91% was surface water, and 9% underground water.

During this period, there were 176 operational municipal wastewater treatment plants in the country.

March 22 was declared World Water Day by the UN General Assembly in 1993. Since then, it has been celebrated with various events around the world, NSI recalled on Wednesday.

This year, the UN initiative will be under the motto “Accelerating Change”. The goal is to accelerate change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.

“And because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action. That means you! You and your family, school and community can make a difference by changing the way you use, consume and manage water in your lives. Your commitments will be added to the Water Action Agenda, to be launched at the UN 2023 Water Conference – the first event of its kind for nearly 50 years. This is a once-in-a-generation moment for the world to unite around water. Play your part. Do what you can, “reads the appeal published on the World Water Day website.

According to the estimates of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, based on estimates by the World Bank, more than 12 billion BGN are needed to replace the water supply network in the country. According to the department’s data, as of July 2022, 35,000 people in Bulgaria were affected by the lack of drinking water. According to various rankings, this country is the leader in the EU in terms of water loss.