A new 20 million leva water treatment plant in Shumen has been purifying the waters of the Ticha Dam since yesterday

"Since yesterday, Shumen residents have been drinking clean water, which has the best indicators according to national and European requirements. Residents should be reassured that from now on their water will be one of the best that can be drunk in Bulgaria, which is due to the 100% functioning drinking water treatment plant." This was stated by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov. Together with the Mayor of Shumen, Prof. Hristo Hristov, and the Executive Director of Bulgarian Water and Sewerage Holding EAD, Irena Georgieva, the Minister inspected the new facility on site today. It was built within the framework of the project "Integrated project for improving the water sector in a separate territory served by Water Supply and Sewerage Shumen", financed under the Operational Program "Environment" 2014-2020. The cost of the facility is 20 million leva, and it processes from 400 l/sec. to 600 l/sec. It will serve a total of about 83 thousand people in the city of Shumen and the villages of Belokopitovo, Dibich and Panayot Volov.

The Minister informed that yesterday the RZI samples taken from 11 points showed extremely high water quality. Today the data of Water Supply and Sewerage Shumen are also expected to be ready. The forecast is to confirm the good results.

"The launch of the station is the result of the efforts of many teams and many years of work. My first job as Minister was to speed up the process of putting it into operation, because all residents of Shumen have been experiencing the hardships of the water in the water in recent years. This has now been put to an end with a fully functioning facility that will deliver quality water to every household,” emphasized Minister Ivanov. With the commissioning of the station, frequent water outages are also being stopped. “I thank the management of Bulgarian Water Supply and Sewerage Holding EAD, Water Supply and Sewerage Shumen and everyone who gave their contribution to Shumen residents drinking clean water,” said the regional minister.

“The operator has not taken advantage of the last permitted increase by the Energy and Water Resources Commission, so at this stage the price of water will be at the current level,” said Ivan Ivanov.

The Minister also commented that work is being accelerated to put into operation the new water supply line to the city. After its inclusion in the Water Supply and Sewerage system, water savings of 10 thousand cubic meters are reported. m per day, which previously leaked from an old network, he noted. Work is also underway to renovate the “1300 Godini” pumping station.

Minister Ivanov called on the Shumen Municipality to also work on providing alternative water sources in order to guarantee sustainable water supply to the settlements in the future. “Currently, the only source of funding is the Investment Program for Municipal Projects. If municipalities, as well as the Shumen Municipality, have developed such projects, they can apply to the MRDPW for the funds provided for in the 2025 budget, they will be funded as a priority. One of the cabinet’s commitments is the fight against water scarcity. My appeal to the municipalities is to prioritize such projects,” the minister urged. He also announced that work is about to begin on the adoption of a new water strategy for Bulgaria, as the old one expired in 2023.