The National Water Board held its first meeting on Tuesday in implementation of a National Assembly's resolution of 3 September 2025 concerning the adoption of urgent measures to address the water crisis in Bulgaria.
The purpose of the National Water Board is to coordinate efforts to overcome the 2025 water crisis, as well as the efforts of all relevant institutions to prevent potential future crises.
The board includes representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Economy, the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, and the Bulgarian Development Bank.
Opening the meeting, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said the issue of water supply is becoming increasingly problematic due to the lack of targeted and coordinated action between national and local authorities, and among those responsible for managing the sector.
He noted that a combination of factors contributes to the problem, including climate changes such as reduced and irregular rainfall, droughts and fires. Poor planning, mismanagement of water resources, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of investment in municipal water and sewerage networks are also significant issues.
Zhelyazkov said that poor management of water systems intended for irrigation, industrial, and domestic use leads to conflicts, referencing the recent incident in Lovech where solving a problem in Pleven relied on resources from Lovech. He stressed that such poor communication and information-sharing could provoke tensions between communities sharing a water source, and that human error should not be overlooked.
Zhelyazkov said the new Board must assume the serious responsibility of integrating the management of water resources, planning targeted investments in water infrastructure, developing new sources, and improving river basin management to prevent potential spring floods.
Addressing a news briefing after the meeting, Regional Development Minister Ivan Ivanov said that the government plans for the National Water Board to work in two directions: seeking specific solutions for struggling regions and strategic, long-term solutions for the whole country.
According to Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Zafirov, the staffing of the National Water Board is to be finalized during Wednesday's meeting of the Council of Ministers.