News

12 September 2025

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva sent letters to the Minister of Regional Development Ivan Ivanov and the Minister of Environment Manol Genov, as well as to the Mayor of Breznik Vasil Uzunov, the Executive Director of Bulgarian Water Holding EAD Irena Georgieva-Dineva, and the Managing Director of Water Supply and Sewerage – Pernik, Stoyan Tsvetanov.

The reason for this is complaints and two petitions signed by over 800 people, in which citizens inform the Ombudsman that, as of 1 September this year, by order of the Regional Health Inspectorate in Pernik, they are prohibited from using water from the Krasava dam. The reason for these measures is the latest results of physical, chemical, and microbiological analyses of samples taken by the Pernik Regional Health Inspectorate, which confirm the presence of bacteria in the water. The reason for the introduction of these measures is the latest results of physical and chemical and microbiological analyses of samples taken by the Regional Health Inspectorate in Pernik, which confirm the presence of manganese, arsenic, and the bacterium Clostridium perfringens.

Citizens are concerned about their health and lives and report that the six water tanks provided so far for the town of Breznik are not enough to meet their needs, that they are not being refilled in a timely manner, and that there is no organization in place to deliver water to elderly and lonely people who cannot reach the tanks.

In her letter, the Ombudsman points out that the water supply operator is currently failing to fulfill its obligations to provide uninterrupted and high-quality water supply services in Breznik. The right of citizens to access water for drinking and domestic needs—a basic necessity of life—has been violated. Nevertheless, they are charged and pay the price of drinking water, even though it is unfit even for domestic use.

"This is unacceptable and unfair. Therefore, responsibility must be taken and, while the restrictive measures indicated by the Regional Health Inspectorate in Pernik are in force, a decision must be made not to charge the affected population for the "water supply" service or to reduce the price of the water and sewerage service," writes the Ombudsman.

Delcheva insists that sufficient water tankers should be provided to ensure that the affected population has access to drinking water.

She draws attention to a reply dated 1 August 2025 from the Minister of Regional Development to a question from a member of parliament, which makes it clear that 89.89% of the water pipes managed by the company for Water Supply and Sewerage in Pernik (ViK-Pernik) in the municipality of Breznik are made of asbestos cement and are completely depreciated, the total water losses for 2024 in the town are 72.75%, and in the village of Rezhantsi – 92.66%.

For this reason, the Ombudsman is asking the responsible authorities how many kilometers of water pipes have been rehabilitated as of 1 September 2025; whether the procedure for transferring the newly built and public assets after major repairs from the Municipality of Breznik to the Water Supply and Sewerage Association of Pernik has been finalized; what stage are the procedures for coordinating and implementing the prepared projects for supplying the town of Breznik and the village of Noevtsi from the alternative water sources examined (one of the measures taken by the Municipal Council to deal with the crisis situation).

Delcheva insists on answers to the following questions: Have illegal connections to the water supply network and unauthorized use been identified, and if so, how many and what actions have been taken; at what stage is the procedure for financing the remaining 18 projects under the Municipalities' Investment Program related to the improvement of the water supply and sewerage infrastructure; at what stage is the procedure for concluding an agreement with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works for the project "Reconstruction of the internal water supply network on Elena Georgieva Street, Boris Antov Street, and Shipka Street in the town of Breznik.

In her letter to the two ministers, the Ombudsman warns that the citizens of Breznik are dissatisfied and are planning protests because of official inaction in violation of their fundamental right to clean and sufficient drinking water, posing a real threat to their health and lives.

"The citizens' protests are in response to a deepening management deficit in recent years regarding the maintenance of rational water use while respecting the primary priority of ensuring the vital needs for drinking water supply to residents. They insist that the state take immediate measures to find a lasting solution for permanent, year-round access to clean drinking water," the Ombudsman writes.

Velislava Delcheva recommends five specific actions be taken:

1.     Announcement of a detailed plan for immediate action to address the water crisis in the town of Breznik and other affected settlements in the municipality.

2.     Conducting tests on the chemical condition of the water body of the Krasava 2 dam and publishing the measured results and forecast.

3.     Providing broad public access to information on water use permits issued for drinking water supply purposes by the West Black Sea Basin Directorate and the Municipality of Breznik, and monitoring compliance with them.

4.     Identification of possible alternative sources of drinking water supply, including, but not limited to, the possibility of water supply through the use of the waters of the Druzhba dam, which the Minister of Economy and Industry has informed the municipal councilors about.

5.     Approval of financial payment transactions in the implementation of investment projects with funds from European and national public funds should be linked to a guarantee mechanism for suspending payments in the event of a violation or threat to the fundamental rights of citizens.