News

9 August 2023

Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva has sent a recommendation to the Director of the Smolyan Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) Ekaterina Gadzheva in relation to the emergency discharge of waste water in the Devinska River as a result of the production operations of the bottling company Devin EAD and a report about the mass dying of fish, mainly trout. Prof. Kovacheva demands that an inquiry be carried out into the deadlines set to disclose the results of the laboratory analyses of the quality of water and the dying of the fish. The Ombudsman also insists that the significance of the impact should be determined as well as the extent to which the discharge of waste water containing harmful substances in shallow water constitutes an activity punishable under the Liability for Prevention and Remedying of Environmental Damage Act.

The Public Advocate notes that after information posted on the website of the Smolyan RIEW on 4 August of this year about an inspection based on a “report about dead fish and foam in the Devinska River”, the inspectors on the case found emergency discharge of waste water in the river. The reason given is the replacement of pumps as a result of which the waste water from the company operations is not pumped into the sewerage system of the town of Devin.

“The waste water discharged came from the production operations of the company and it was of domestic-faecal nature – from the maintenance of the sanitary and hygienic conditions on the premises. Measures were taken immediately to put an end to the irregular discharge and administrative-penal sanctions will be imposed on Devin EAD on account of it,” according to the website.

Prof. Diana Kovacheva is concerned about the information provided to the media that the inspection on site found a significantly high value for the acidity benchmark (pH), in the alkaline section. Even though administrative criminal proceedings were instituted, measures were taken to prevent a repeated water leak through the same pipe, the RIEW exercises ongoing monitoring and a commitment was made to restore the fish population in the Devinska River, the Ombudsman insists that it should be made clear in the shortest term if there is any danger for people and the ecosystem.