Deputy Minister Pavleta Pelovska: We can't afford to just plan for the water sector, we have to act

Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works participates in Danube Water Forum 2026 in the capital

“With regard to the water sector in Bulgaria, the most important priority is to act, we cannot afford to just plan, but we must act.” This was said by Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Pavleta Pelovska at the international “Danube Water Forum 2026”. The event is organized in the capital in partnership with the Bulgarian Water Association and the International Association of Water Supply Companies along the Danube River.

“Our objectives are clear: renovation and modernization of the water supply and sewerage infrastructure and ensuring uninterrupted access to clean drinking water for every citizen", addressed the participants in the forum Pavleta Pelovska. She stressed that in order to achieve these objectives, the "road" passes through a new regulatory framework and large-scale investments in the water infrastructure.

According to her, the adoption of a new Water Supply and Sanitation Act will create an entirely new, unified legal framework for the sector and will lead to much-needed reforms in the sector, more effective management of public property and higher quality of services in the demarcated territories.

For renovation and modernization of the water supply and sewerage infrastructure, it is necessary that the funds allocated through the Investment Program for municipal projects go as a priority to the replacement of the depreciated water pipes and to the reconstruction of water treatment plants, through which people in the different regions of the country will have quality and permanent water supply, Pelovska pointed out.

She was adamant that the cabinet would honour Progressive Bulgaria’s commitment to spending taxpayers’ money wisely. Therefore, an analysis will be made of how funds have been paid under the Investment Program for municipal projects and for what sites.

"Money must go where it is needed and will benefit the population," said the deputy regional minister, adding: "even more so in the water and sanitation sector, where the need for replacement is blatant. These large-scale investments must be prioritised to tackle aridity - to regions with chronic shortages and water regimes, in order to modernise the network where needs are most critical. A problem that has been neglected for years!"

Along with the national budget, we should also mobilise funds from the European Structural Funds for a complete technological modernization of the water supply and sewerage network, Pelovska said. She pointed out that a European instrument for uniting efforts for the development of modern and sustainable water supply and sewerage infrastructure in the Danube region is the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, whose chairman this year is Bulgaria, and the MRDPW is responsible for its coordination.  The Deputy Minister explained that in many parts of the Danube region there are still significant differences in the development of water infrastructure and in the access to quality water services, so improving access to safe drinking water and the sustainable management of water resources are key factors for improving the quality of life, public health and economic development of these settlements.