Work begins on the procedures for the construction of a purification plant for drinking water at the dam. “Aheloy“. Funding will be provided by the state, and it is expected to be completed within a year. In this way, the water from the dam will be included in the water supply system of Burgas and will provide for the population and the tourist industry. This was announced by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Eng. Violeta Koritarova at a meeting with mayors of municipalities from the Burgas region, where the problems with water supply in the region were discussed. The mayors of Burgas, Aytos, Karnobat, Sungurlare, Tsarevo, Rouen, Sredets, Primorsko, Sozopol, Nesebar, Pomorie, Malko Tarnovo and Kameno, the regional governor prof. Maria Neikova, Eng. Stoyan Nikolov, member of the Management Board of the “Road Infrastructure” etc.
During the conversation, Minister Koritarova informed the mayors that the repairs of the other reserve dam for water supply – “Downpour“ are completed on time and by the end of the year the reconstruction of the water tower will be completed, after which the water reservoir will begin to be pumped. The repair of the drinking water treatment plant at the dam is also on schedule and on schedule. “Clear meadow”. It is expected that the facility will operate at full capacity at the beginning of next year, so that it will provide clean water for the municipalities of Sozopol, Tsarevo, Primorsko, Sredets, etc.
„We are confident that the measures and actions we are taking will not lead to a water supply regime along the Southern Black Sea coast. However, as long as the drought does not deepen, because for the third year in a row we report that the precipitation is below the average annual levels for the region,” noted Eng. Koritarova.
The regional minister appeals to the mayors of Black Sea municipalities to prioritize their work on replacing the internal water supply network by submitting projects for this under the government investment program. In this way, the loss of water in the networks will be reduced. At the present moment, the statistics show that the municipalities of the Burgas region have submitted 71 projects for the implementation of various sites to the MRRB, of which only 20 are for the repair and construction of water and sanitation infrastructure. “This is the fastest measure that we can implement together. "You still have the opportunity to prioritize these projects and apply for funds to the Ministry of Regional Development and Development," the minister pointed out. And he reminded that in this way it will not be necessary to increase the price of water, because the funds are from the budget and are not calculated as an investment of the water operators. The minister also called on the municipalities that rely on local water sources to take action to build additional shaft or tube wells to ensure additional amounts of water. “Unfortunately, the drought also affected this direction. The groundwater level is falling and deeper wells are needed, she commented. Mayors should also strengthen control, especially during the summer months, regarding the use of drinking water for non-domestic purposes. “This is a problem to which we must find a solution, because it is important to save water and use it for its intended purpose”, commented Eng. Koritarova. At the meeting, the minister once again noted that at the moment there is no cause for concern and there is no future water crisis in the Burgas region.
She informed the mayors that Phase 2 for the replacement of the water supply network, financed under the “Environment” 2021 – 2027 Within the framework of the activity, the reconstruction of 160 km of water supply and 22 km of sewage network is planned, as well as the construction of 7 km of water supply and 73 km of sewage network. Among the sites for which a contract has been concluded are the reconstruction and construction of the water supply network in the neighborhoods of Burgas – “Sarafovo“, “Meden Rudnik“, “Kraimorie“, Burgas - East, West, South, as well as in the settlements of Karnobat, Primorsko, Kiten, Aytos, Tsarevo, Lozenets, Obzor, Pomorie, Chernomorets, Nessebar, Sunny beach, Ravda, Aheloy and Tsarevo.
The minister also commented on the possibility of using the mineral water for domestic needs at the proposal of the mayors. To make this possible, talks will be held with the Ministry of Health to change the regulation. “It is good to put the topic on the table to be discussed and to know what we can count on. We should consider the possibility of a joint survey of the local water sources by Burgas Waterworks and the municipalities. There must be enough boreholes and alternative local water sources to be sure in the coming years that climate change will not have an irretrievably bad impact on the water supply, she also commented.
The regional governor of Burgas, as the chairman of the local Water and Sewer Association, said that a motivated proposal will be sent to secure the necessary funds for the “Poroy“ dams. and “Aheloy“ priority, because it is necessary and important for the Burgas region. We will make a proposal for regulatory changes that will ease and speed up the processes of drilling and own water sources.
The regional minister also commented on a wide range of questions raised by the mayors. She informed that the public procurement for the project of a four-lane road between Burgas and Malko Tarnovo is being prepared. “Unfortunately, the procedures are slow, but we are obliged to start them promptly in order to build the road infrastructure from Malko Tarnovo to Durankulak. API is working on the construction and expansion of routes in this direction. It is important to build not only the highways, but also the vertical connections to the north – south“, the minister pointed out. A procedure for the construction of the Sunny Beach Bypass, part of the route of the I-9 national road, is to be announced. A working group will be created between the API, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the municipalities for faster processing of the "Black Sea" highway route, it became clear at the meeting. The EIA procedure is currently underway, with the experts considering two options for the construction of the highway. “When it becomes clear which municipalities the route passes through, when its scope is clear, we will have a discussion with the mayors of the populated areas, so that investment intentions or development procedures are not allowed there, which will then be in conflict with the route on the highway. This is how we will ensure it, because AM “Black Sea” is very important to us. This is the closure of the highway ring and Corridor 8, for which Bulgaria is working”, commented Eng. Koritarova. Eng. Stoyan Nikolov, a member of the Management Board of API, informed that they are working on an idea to resume a project for the repair of the Obzor Pass, so that by the time the repair of the Dyulin Pass is completed, there will be project readiness for the Obzor Pass and then repairs can begin. The construction of a third lane is planned for almost half of it.
„We work for the citizens, to improve the infrastructure, to develop the regions. Burgas is one of the important regions, because this year saw the growth of the tourist product in Bulgaria. From now on, we have to start working for the next tourist season and secure the road and water infrastructure. We have already concluded contracts for the current repair and maintenance of the republican roads, and together with the actions for the major repair of some routes, we will guarantee safe traffic in the active tourist season. For us, the safety of the road infrastructure is a priority and we do not compromise with our actions, the regional minister also said.
The mayors also touched on the topic of renovating the residential blocks with funds from the Recovery and Sustainability Plan. Minister Koritarova announced that it is expected that by the end of the week all invitations to conclude contracts will be issued to the municipalities.