Water Resources Management in

Dr. Atanas Paskalev * Bulgarian National Association on Water Quality

ABSTRACT

Located on the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria has an area of 110 911 km2 and population of 8 000 000 residents. Bulgarian has common boundaries with , Yugoslavia, Greece, Former Yogosl.Rep.,Macedonia, and Turkey as it shown on Fig. 1. The Bulgarian territory is about three-fourth mountainous and one-fourth plains.

Slovakia Ukraine

Austria Hungary Switzerland

Slovenia Romania Croatia

Bosnia and Herzegovina Yugoslavia Italy Bulgaria

Albania Fmr Yug Rep Macedonia

Greece Turkey

Fig. 1

Average population density is 81 persons per km2. About 65 percent of the population live in towns1). Urban population expanded rapidly through the 1970s. Sofia, the capital city, had a population of 1 250 000 in 1992. |Other large cities are 350,000, Varna 250 000, Ruse 193 000, 138 000, 114 000, Vratsa 84 000, 80 000, 67 000, 58 000, 57 000, Montana 566 000, 51 000.

Average annual precipitation fluctuates within the range of 2000 mm in high mountains (Central Rila Mountains) to 500 mm in the North-East Bulgaria (Silistra region). In the plains of the Danubian plain the precipitation is only 500 - 600 mm. In some years there is no precipitation over the summer period (from June to the end of August).

1 In humid years the long-term average values are exceeded by 120 - 150%. In dry years the precipitation total decreases down the minimum of 300 mm in North-East. The annual distribution of precipitation shows the maximum in spring (April - May), when convective precipitation constitutes a considerable contribution to the total precipitation. The minimum precipitation occur in February and end of summer (July - September).

The water resources in Bulgaria are formed by the run-off of the internal rivers, underground waters and part of the River waters.

The average year quantity per inhabitant is about 2300 - 2400 cub.m. and the used part of it varies from 600 to 1000 cub.m / inhabitant. In comparison with Turkey, former Yugoslavia and Austria our water resources are 3 times less and in comparison with the Central European level - 2 times less.

The average perennial run-off of the internal rivers is evaluated at 20.2x109 - 20.7x109 cub.m and decreases to 9x109 cub.m in a very dry / 95% / year, under ground waters are approximately 6x109 cub.m. For the run-off regulation 2045 water storages, with total useful volume of about 6x109 cub.m. in which are regulated and re distributed about 40% of the average perennial surface run-off, have been built3). The underground waters as operational stock piles are evaluated between 3.5x109 and 4.2x109 cub.m. Water source for is the Danube river, which average run-off in the Bulgarian section is about 170.2x109 cub.m. The contribution of Bulgarian rivers to the Danube is 6.3x109cub.m.

At the moment waters used from the Danube river varies and reaches 1.08x109cub.m. per year. The potential possible water consumption from the Danube is estimated at 6- 7x109cub.m.

In the recent years a tendency for decreasing of the precipitation and the total reserves has been observed. Especially unfavorable was year 1994, when the water reserves fell to 27% of their total useful volume.

The constructed facilities for water usage can ensure about 10 x 109cub.m. in an average wet year. In case of drying up the water volumes fell sharply - in an average dry year to 7-8 x109cub.m., and in case of drying up for a long time it can be relied only on dams, which ensure 5-6 x 109cub.m. annually.

The water consumption for the period 1985-1989 varies between 9 and 12 x 109cub.m. in dependence on the humidity of the year, average 10.5x109cub. m. As a result of production decrease after 1989 and the considerable increase of the water price water decrease to 8x 109cub.m in 1994 with 23% re - used water. Despite of this water deficit appear, which size is about 1.5 - 2 x 109cub. m. appeared .16 towns and 100 villages are at permanent regime and at a seasonal - 120 towns and 1200 villages. At the same time the specific total water consumption for inhabitant, including potable-domestic, industrial and economics needs is very high and according to approximate evaluation is about 580

2 l/c/d. per capita in 1991 and 422 l/c/d. per capita in 1994 with about 160 l/c/d per capita for potable - domestic needs.

Water supply of the available waters is limited by their worsen qualities as a result of the pollution. If the tendency for increasing of the water consumption continue in the future, the water deficit will grow and will turn into very serious social, economic and environmental problem for the country. This makes necessary re - evaluation of the water policy and developing of a strategy for management, usage and protection of waters, and special attention to be paid to diminishing of water consumption, recycling and repeated use of waters and improvement of their qualities, which is directly connected to waste waters treatment.

In the present paper short explanation of the water environment and water resources are given.

The major objectives pursued by the policy for sustainable water infrastructure development are given and the basic principles employed in the water management strategy in Republic of Bulgaria are described, as well.

The management of water resources is given in the light of the New Water Law and is made short review of Bulgarian response to the new EU Water Frame Work Directives as a step for harmonization of Bulgarian legislation with the European one.

The strategy of the Government concerning the Water sector and the management of the Water Companies are mentioned and needed institutional and regulatory reforms are underlined.

The status of the recent national programs for priority construction of Urban Waste Water Treatment Plants is shown. Key words: water, resources, management

AVAILABLE WATER RESOURCES

Bulgaria’s potential water resources are mostly compound of the surface flow of the country’s internal rivers2). Flow depends mainly on rainfall, which comes to explain its inconstancy and irregularity.

The average multiannual flow of the country’s internal rivers is estimated at about 20 km3 and varies from 10 to 30 km3 depending on the humidity of the particular year. Another peculiarity is significant seasonal variations, which cause increase in water quantities by times and potential flooding in the snow melting period (March – May) and severe droughts in summer and autumn accompanied with the drying up of some of the smaller rivers.

3 The territorial irregularity of the river flow is very serious, too. The Aegean drainage area is the richest in water resources, covering 45.5% of the country’s territory and forming 52.3% of Bulgaria’s water resources. The drainage area is the poorest in water resources, with 23.3% of the territory and 9.8% of the water resources. The drainage area of the Danube tributaries is 31.2%, and it forms 37.9% of the potential water resources /See Fig.2/.

Fig2.Distribution of the water basins areas

The Black The Sea Water Danube Basin Water 23.30% Basin 31.20% The White Sea Water Basin 45.50%

To satisfy consumers’ water demand and redistribute water resources, Bulgaria has built derivations for transfer of water between river basins, as well as more than 2000 dams of the total aggregated volume of 8 km3, of which 82% usable. The high degree of flow regulation allows multipurpose repeated use of the country’s limited water resources and diminishes the danger of flooding, but at the same time it has a negative impact on water ecosystems and water quality in the drained river areas.

Use of Danube water is limited to mainly the coastal area as transporting it to other regions will result in high energy costs and tariffs.

The natural resources of fresh ground water are formed by rainfall and surface flow mainly, and account for 30% of the latter (about 6 km3). The usable part is estimated at about 4 km3 per annum. The available facilities allow the use of 2.4 – 2.5 km3 per annum.

There are more than 160 mineral water deposits in Bulgaria with a total flow of about 3 m3/sec. About 32% of them are used for various purposes: bottling, balneotherapy, heat power, etc.

4 WATER USE

Water is used for various purposes in Bulgaria: domestic use, industrial use, irrigation, power use, aquaculture, etc. The country has built the following facilities in regard to water use: • Domestic water use: 24 thousand km mains, 50 thousand km distribution network within the settlements, 53 potable water treatment plants of total capacity of 20 m3/sec, 5,900 tanks servicing the settlements, 3,850 pump stations, 10 dams, 146 river water intakes, 2,800 wells (pipe, shaft and Rhanei), 6700 catchments and drainage systems; • Hydroelectric power water use: 16 hydroelectric power plants, parts of big water- power cascades, using dam-regulated water, and 53 in-stream hydroelectric power plants on the country’s internal rivers, 22 of which form part of smaller cascades with daytime balancing tanks; • Irrigation water use: 7 thousand irrigation canals and intake systems, 8 thousand irrigation pipelines, 936 irrigation stations, 177 big and about 1,800 smaller dams.

The aggregated water demand for agriculture and domestic use is estimated at an average of about 16 km3 per annum. About 30% thereof is provided through the available recycled water systems, and the remaining consumption is satisfied through withdrawal of fresh water.

The total volume of withdrawn fresh water is estimated at about 11.6 km3. Distributed by water sources, 39.5% are withdrawn from the Danube river, 31.9 from dams, 18.1% from the internal rivers, 6.6% from ground water, and 3.9% from lakes, swamps, lagoons, etc. /See Fig.3/.

Fig3.Distribution of the taken raw waters (total 11.6 cub.km/year)

From the From Danube internal River rivers 39.50% 18.10%

From undergrod From dams waters /2000 6.60% From lakes numbers/ 3.90% 31.90%

Agricultural use amounts to 0.33 km3, with the following distribution by subindustries: 86% irrigation water use and 14% livestock water use. About 63% of the agricultural water use was delivered by public irrigation water suppliers, and 37% was self-supplied.

5 Industrial water use amounts to 1.38 km3, 44% of which cooling water, 8.6% incorporated in products, and the rest used for other industrial purposes. Industrial water supplied from a public-water supply represents 21.8% of the total consumption, with the remaining percent self-supplied.

Potable water use is wholly supplied by public utilities (98% of Bulgaria’s population has central water supply) and amounts to 0.42 km3 per annum, with 65% of the water used for household purposes, and the rest for industrial and other purposes.

The total quantity of water withdrawn by public water utilities is about 1.97 km3, with 0.98 km3 of it delivered to users. This indicates that water losses are way too big (50.2%), a fact that is due to both deteriorated distribution networks and poor water supply systems management.

For drainage and flood protection, Bulgaria has built the following infrastructure: 262 km bank-protection ditches along the Danube; 4.7 thousand km bank-protection ditches along the inner rivers; 3.2 km corrected river basins; 12 retention dams; draining canals and pump stations.

WASTEWATER

Total sewage is estimated at 1.15 km3, with 65% carried off by public sewer systems and the rest directly discharged into water body receiver.

Out of the total sewage, 49% are discharged into water intakes without preliminary treatment, 42% are subjected to biological and other modern treatment, and the remaining 9% are mechanically treated /See Fig.4/.

Fig4.Distribution of the type of tretment of domestic wastewaters

Mechanil treatment only 9.0% Biologicl treatment Dis- 42.0% charged without pretreatet 49.0%

6 Industrial wastewater is estimated at 0.41 km3; 43.8% of them are not treated. The distribution of untreated industrial wastewater by place of discharge is as follows: 55.2% into surface water sources, 0.4% into the sea, 1.7% into the bowels of the earth, 42.7% into the public sewer system. Preliminary treated industrial wastewater is 0.307 km3, or 56.2% of sewage water. 74.6% of them are discharged into surface water sources, 12.7% into the sea, 0.3% into the earth, and 12.4% into public sewer systems. Distributed by method of treatment, they are: 44.6% - mechanically treated, 27.0% - biologically treated, and 28.4% - treated using other modern treatment methods.

Wastewater carried off by public sewer systems is 0.75 km3, 15% of it from the industries. To treat public sewer system wastewater, Bulgaria has built 52 town wastewater treatment plants with an aggregated project capacity of 1,852,778 m3/day. In 1997, they worked with 64% of the project capacity to treat 46% of the public sewer systems wastewater.

Wastewater treatment plant sludge is estimated at 2.1 million tons, distributed by origin as follows: 59.5% from industrial facilities; 38.1% from industrial treatment plants; and 2.4% from town treatment plants. Distributed by method of treatment, sludge is: 0.9% - burnt, 27.7% - discharged into water sources, 57.4% - stored within the industry’s area, and 14.0% - transported to special depots.

WATER QUALITY AND MONITORING

Surface water quality is monitored through 340 monitoring stations, 299 of which are located along the rivers, 15 on lakes and 26 monitor the quality of Black Sea waters. The general findings about the quality of surface waters show the following tendencies:

• The Danube river – Water quality meets the requirements for a II-III category water intake. Observations show negligible decrease of dissolved oxygen along almost the entire course of the river to the town of Silistra, as well as incidental increases in BOD5 after the town of Svistov and in dissolved substances in the upper course of the river. • The Ogosta river – Part of the river after the towns of Montana and Vratza is medium polluted, with pollution caused by mining and chemistry industries (the Chimco Plant in the town of Vratza). • The river – There are a number of highly polluted sections along the course of the river: along the main flow in the section between the villages of Kubratovo and Kurilo, pollution caused by domestic and industrial wastewater; the lower flow of the Lesnovska river, pollution caused by industrial wastewater mainly; and almost the entire course of the Malak Iskar tributary, pollution caused by mining and industrial pollution. • The river – The following sections are strongly polluted: after the town of , after the town of Gabrovo, and after the town of Gorna Oriahovitza. Pollution is caused by domestic and industrial wastewater discharged into the river. • The Tundja river – There are polluted sectors after the points where the tributaries Eninska river and Asenovska river flow in, as well as after the towns of , Iambol, and . Pollution is caused by discharged untreated domestic sewage and industrial

7 and agricultural wastewater. There is a clear trend to improvement in comparison with previous years. • The Maritza river – There are many strongly polluted sections along the flow of the river: the Topolnitza river after the town of ; the Luda Iana river after the Assarel Medet ore processing plant; the Chepelarska river at its mouth; the Sazliika river after the town of ; the Blatnitza river after the town of ; the Haskovska river after the town of ; and along the main flow – after the towns of Kostenetz and Belovo, the city of Plovdiv, the town of Dimitrovgrad, and other. Pollution of water is caused by mining and metallurgy (the town of Pirdop), cellulose pulp (the town of Belovo), chemical (the towns of Haskovo and Dimitrovgrad) and other industries, by untreated domestic sewage (the towns of Pazardjik, Stara Zagora, Dimitrovgrad, etc.) and livestock wastewater. There is almost no improvement in water quality, therefore building town wastewater treatment plants is a priority especially for the bigger towns. • The Arda river – Sections of the upper flow of the river are strongly polluted. The major sources of pollution are mining and non-ferrous metal industries. There is a trend to insignificant improvement in and preservation of water quality in the middle and lower flow in correspondence with the project category. • The Struma river – Generally, water quality is in line with the project category. However, there are some small strongly polluted sections – after the towns of , Kjustendil, and Dupnitza. Sources of pollution are the industrial wastewater of the towns of and Pernik, as well as domestic sewage of some of the bigger settlements (the town of and others). • Black Sea – There is a general trend to improvement in and stabilization of the quality of coastal sea waters and lakes. Certain indexes are incidentally exceeded, for example at the point where the Kamchia river flows into the sea the ammonia and nitrate nitrogen standards are exceeded. Similar is the case with the section near the town of – the ammonia and nitrate nitrogen standards, and BOD5 in the spring are exceeded.

Water monitoring is the responsibility of the Regional Environment and Waters Inspectorates (REWI), 15 in number, and the Monitoring Section of the National Environment and Resources Management Center, with control functions vested mainly in REWI.

Control on potable water supplied to domestic users is exercised by the Ministry of Health (MH) through 28 regional Hygiene and Epidemiology Inspectorates (HEI).

Ground-water quality is monitored through 238 monitoring stations. Results show that the East Thracia hydrogeologic area, located in the Tundja river basin, is the most strongly polluted. Pollution is above all with ammonia, nitrates, iron and manganese. Pollution with above-standard quantity of nitrates is observed in the regions of Dobrudja and Ludogorie, where it results from the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Significant pollution with manganese is observed in the Lower Maritza, , East Thracian, Srednogorski and Sofia hydrologic basins, often affecting existing potable water sources.

8 LEGISLATIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS

According to the new policy in regard to waters, the Ministry of Environment and Waters is responsible for the development and enforcement of the governmental policy on water use and preservation.

Bulgaria is a country of limited water resources. Their preservation and rational use is protected with the Water Law, in force since 27 January 2000.

This act settles waters ownership and management on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, with waters treated as a national indivisible natural resource. It also governs the ownership of water systems and facilities.

Water is managed at both national and river basin level.

National level management is exclusive right of the Ministerial Council, exercised through the Ministry of Environment and Waters. There is a Higher Consulting Board on Water with said Ministry, with members from various ministries, Bulgarian Academy of Science, municipalities, and water-related non-governmental organizations. The governmental policy in regard to the operation, construction, reconstruction and modernization of water systems and facilities is carried out by:

1. The Minister of Regional Development and Public Works – regarding water supply and sewage systems and facilities of settlements, as well as protection of waters from harmful impact within the borders of settlements;

2. The Minister of Agriculture, Forests, and Agrarian Reform – regarding irrigation and land reclamation systems and facilities, as well as protection of waters from harmful impact outside the borders of settlements;

3. The Governmental Power Production and Resources Agency – regarding hydropower systems and plants;

4. The Minister of Environment and Waters – regarding mineral water withdrawal facilities, mineral water being public state property.

The policy on operation, construction, reconstruction and modernization of municipal water systems and facilities is carried out by the mayor of the respective municipality.

Waters, water sources, systems and facilities on the territory of Bulgaria can be state, municipal, and private property (of natural and legal entities).

9

Water use and use of water sources Water use and use of water sources covers water use1 and use of water sources. This use can be general and individual, with and without special licence. Licences for water use are required in all instances except when using water with flow rate of up to 0.2 l/sec, but not more than 10 m3/day, for own needs.

General water use and use of water sources for industrial purposes are subject to a natural resource use fee. The amount of the fee is set by the Ministerial Council. The natural water resource use fee has been introduced with the new Water Law and collected since 1 January 2001.

Licences

Water use and use of water sources is carried out after the issue of a licences by the competent authorities.

When issuing water use licencess, the following order for satisfying applications is observed:

1. Domestic water use; 2. Therapy and prevention – for mineral water only; 3. Agricultural water use; 4. Other purposes, including industrial, recreation and hydropower water use.

When issuing water use licencess, the competent authorities take into consideration the following:

1. Available water resources; 2. Needs of the water use or water source use applicant; 3. Status of the water source; 4. Rights obtained under the licences.

Licencess are issued for a term of:

1. Up to 35 years – for backwater activities and water use from complex hydropower and irrigation and land reclamation dams; 2. Up to 25 years – for domestic water use; 3. Up to 10 years – in all other cases.

Special Right of Water Use and Use of Water Systems and Facilities

One of the efficient ways to organize water systems and facilities management and secure investments is to attract the private sector by granting concession rights to said systems and facilities.

1 This includes activities connected to withdrawing water from water sources.

10 The order, requirements and procedure therefor are developed in detail in the new Water Law. So far, concession rights have been granted to the supply network and facilities on the territory of the city of Sofia. There are ongoing procedures for the Varna and networks, and the Vratza and Montana ones are at an advanced stage of studying.

Waters Management

Waters within the territory of the country are managed as an indivisible natural resource, following the basic principles of:

− Defining the river basin as the principal quantity and quality unit of combined surface and ground-water management to achieve sustainable water use and preservation of water ecosystems; − Observing the principle of solidarity and public interest by ensuring co-operation at all management levels: governmental administration, municipal administration, water users and ecological organizations; − Enforcing the ‘Polluter pays” principle and other economic regulative measures regarding water use and preservation.

Waters management is carried out at national and river basin levels.

River basin areas are defined by the natural location of the watersheds between the drainage areas of one or some major rivers.

The river basins, set out in the Water Law, do not coincide with the administrative territorial division of the country and form the basis for environmental management on the basin principle.

The national water management authorities are the Ministerial Council and the Ministry of Environment and Waters, and the basin management authorities – the Directors of the Basin Directorates.

The following basin water management areas have been set:

1. Danube area, center the town of Pleven. This area covers the drainage areas of the Iskar, Erma, Nishava, Ogosta and west of Ogosta, , , Iantra, and Rusenski Lom rivers, as well as the territory west of the ground water shed of the Malm- Valange aquifer; 2. Black Sea area, center the city of Varna. It covers the territory east of the ground water shed of the Malm-Valange aquifer, as well as the drainage areas of the rivers flowing into the Black Sea from the north to the south state border, including internal and territorial sea waters; 3. East Aegean area, center the city of Plovdiv. It covers the drainage areas of the Tundja, Maritza, and Arda rivers;

11 4. West Aegean area, center the town of Blagoevgrad. This covers the drainage areas of the Mesta and Struma rivers.

For the purpose of basin water management, the following are set up in the four regions: - Basin Directorates with the Ministry of Environment and Waters; and - Basin Boards.

The activity, work organization and members of the Basin Directorates are governed by a Regulations, issued by the Minister of Environment and Waters.

The activities of the Basin Councils are coordinated by the Chief Water Directorate with the Ministry of Environment and Waters.

The Directors of the Basin Directorate:

- organize the development of the respective basin’s management plans; - issue water use licencess; - carry out the activities of the national river basin level water monitoring system; - manage water and water system mapping and the register of licencess; - collect the fees for the licencess they issue; - control the observation of the terms and requirements of the licencess issued and the terms of the concession rights granted; - supervise the status of the water systems and facilities, issue recommendations and control the compliance therewith, etc.

The Basin Boards are public-governmental counseling boards, which assist the Basin Directorates in their activity.

The Basin Boards include members of the government administration, water users and ecological organizations within the basin area, as well members of water-related scientific organizations.

The activities, structure, work organization and number of members of Basin Boards are regulated by an organization regulations, issued by the Minister of Environment and Waters.

Waters Cadaster

Waters mapping provides data regarding the ownership and status of water sources within the territory of the country and water quantities in them, as well as data about the available water facilities and systems.

Mapping is carried out to provide rational use of water sources, as well as their rehabilitation and protection.

12 Waters mapping is carried out by the Basin Directorates and generalized by the Ministry of Environment and Waters.

Waters mapping is public. Data therefrom can be used in exchange for a fee, determined by the Ministerial Council.

Mapping data is used to prepare water balances and estimates of waters and water sources status.

Financial Organization And Economic Regulation

The economic regulation of waters and water sources use, preservation and rehabilitation is based on the following principles: - Protection of the population’s interest in domestic water use, and mineral water for drinking, therapeutic and preventive and recreational use; - Payment depends on the volume, quantity, and quality of water used and discharged; - The guilty party pays for any damages, harms, pollution , etc. to waters and water sources.

Water supply, sewage and treatment tariffs cover the costs on construction, operation, maintenance and reconstruction of the networks and facilities necessary for the provision of the respective service. In tariffs calculation, only the water use fee for the water quantities actually consumed by the consumer is calculated.

When the total water losses of a water utility or company exceed 25%, they are not calculated in the water tariffs.

Rights of water use and/or licence to use a water source for the purpose of recreation, production of fish, aquaculture, extracting sand and ballast, and discharging wastewater are granted in exchange for a fee, set by the Ministerial Council.

The following fees are transferred to a special National Environment Preservation Fund batch: - fees for water use and/or use of water sources; - fees for the issue of licencess and service fees; - fines for breaching the provisions of the Water Law; - donations; - received damages for incurred harms, etc. The funds collected in the batch are spent on: - the construction, maintenance and operation of the national water monitoring system; - the construction of facilities for the improvement of domestic water supply, sewage and domestic sewage treatment; - payment for scientific and technical services, expert opinions, evaluations, etc.

13 CONCLUSION

Water resources management in Bulgaria is a complex and dynamic process in a period of regulation. The enforcement of the Water Law brought about the issue of a number of regulations, with other as yet at the stage of examination or editing. However, the enforcement of the Water Law and its regulations produces requirements that make additional editing necessary.

The objective is clear – efficient water resources management. The legislation has to provide the conditions to reach that objective.

The short-term objective is to develop a number of regulations under the Water Law to achieve full integration with the following European Council directives: Council Directive 80/68/EEC concerning the protection of ground water against pollution with hazardons substances; Council Directive 76/464/EEC concerning pollution of waters with hazardons substances; Council Directive 80/778/EEC concerning the quality of domestic water; Council Directive 75/440/EEC concerning the requirements for the quality of surface waters intended for potable – domestic water supply; Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by Nitrates from agricultural sources; Proposal for a Water Framework Directive COM 97 (49; Council Directive 76/160/EEC concerning the quality of bathing water; Council Directive 78/659/EEC concerning the quality of fish production water; Council Directive 79/923/EEC concerning the quality of water for carapaces; Council Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste water treatment; Council Directive 96/81/EEC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control.

In the preparation of the new waters management legislation, there will be considered not only the country’s objective to achieve agreement of Bulgarian legislation with the EU legislation, but also the obligations under signed international treaties and agreements.

Bulgaria is a party to the following water-related international conventions and treaties: - Convention on the Transnational water currents and international lakes (Helsinki, 1992) – signed but not ratified; - Convention on the cooperation in the preservation and sustainable use of the Danube river (Sofia, 1994) – signed, but as yet not into force); - Convention on the protection of Black Sea against pollution – ratified, in force for Bulgaria since 15 January 1994; - Convention on the evaluation of environment in the transnational context (Espo, Finland, 1991) – ratified, in force for Bulgaria since 10 September 1997; - International convention on the intervention in open sea in case of accidents leading to oil sea pollution (Brussels, 1969) – ratified, in force for Bulgaria since 31 January 1984; - Convention on the transnational impact of industrial accidents (Helsinki, 1992) – ratified; - Convention on the prevention against sea pollution caused by ships (London, Mexico, Moscow, Washington, 1993) - the convention and annexes 1 and 2 thereto

14 in force for Bulgaria since 12 March 1985, annexes 3 and 5 in force for Bulgaria since 13 August 1993; - International Safe Maritime and Pollution Prevention Code (ISM Code) – not ratified by Bulgaria, but in force since 16 June 1995; - Convention between the Governments of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Romania on cooperation in environment issues – ratified; - Bilateral agreement for cooperation in the field of waters management between the Republic of Bulgaria and Yugoslavia (1958); - Agreement between the People’s Republic of Bulgaria and the Kingdom of Greece for cooperation in the use of transnational river waters – ratified and in force since 1964; - Agreement between the Governments of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Greece for using the waters of the Mesta river.

Economic and financial analyses show that in order to reach the water resources management objectives, it will be necessary to engage the major internal sources of funds: - the National Environment Protection Fund; - the State Budget; - the municipal budgets; - the regional water companies.

Companies restructuring is of crucial importance for the implementation of the program. The use of concession rights is another possibility for private sector participation in the field, with Municipality of Sofia serving as the example /See Fig.5/.

Water Utilities Management on dependence of the ownership

16 number - 1 number on 51% State concession and 49% Municipal 13 numbers - 100% State

19 numbers - 100% Municipal

15 In order to implement the Program, it will be necessary to attract foreign capitals. To that end, possibilities for obtaining credits from international financial institutions and assistance under EC programs will be sought. It must be underlined that at present there are ongoing negotiations with IMF for the granting of an investment credit for a number of town wastewater treatment plants and other projects.

The ISPA tool will be much relied on, with priority being given to: - certain large wastewater treatment plant with influent collectors, whose construction has not yet started or is at an early stage; - potable water treatment plants; - groups of smaller (modular) wastewater treatment plants.

Bulgaria has been implementing a Strategic plan for measures concerning the Danube river within the frames of the international Danube river program. An activity plan for the protection of the Black Sea against pollution is being draft.

References

1) National Review, Bulgaria, DIP, Final Report, August 1993, Sofia 2) Ministry of Environment and Water, Web Site:www.moew.government.bg, 30.01.2001, Bulgaria 3) Paskalev At. And Nenov V. Water Environment in Bulgaria, Journal of Japan Society on Water Environment, Vol. 22, No 2, 1999.

16