Freshwater - Drivers and pressures (Bulgaria)

SOER 2010 Common environmental theme (Deprecated)

Topics: Water and marine environment

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SOER Common environmental theme from Bulgaria

Topic: Freshwater

more info Organisation name Executive Environment Agency Reporting country Bulgaria Organisation website Organisation website Contact link Contact link Last updated 15 Jul 2011 Content license CC By 2.5 Content provider

Published: 23 Sep 2010 Modified: 11 May 2020 Feed synced: 15 Jul 2011 original

Key message

In 2007, freshwater abstraction was 6.2 billion.m^3, which is close to the average volume for the last eight years (6.3 billion m^3). The highest level was registered in 2003 (7.3 billion m³) and the lowest was in 2005 (6.0 billion.m³⁾^.

Groundwater constitutes 8 % of total water abstraction and this water abstraction is mainly for drinking purposes.

Figure 11. Total gross freshwater water abstraction from water sources, million m³.

Figure 12. Water used, million m³.

Figure 13. Total gross fresh water abstraction, WEI (excluding the waters of the Danube).

Figure 14. Active UWWTP and population connected.

In 2007, freshwater abstraction was 6.2 billion.m^3, which is close to the average volume for the last eight years (6.3 billion m³). The highest level was registered in 2003 (7.3 billion m ³) and the lowest was in 2005 (6.0 billion.m³). Fluctuations in water volume is determined mainly by water power station. Groundwater constitutes 8 % of total water abstraction and this water abstraction is mainly for drinking purposes. In 2007, underground sources were 473 million m³, which constitute 82 % of those in 2000. One of the main reasons for the decline in water abstraction is the increase in the costs of abstraction and delivery service. Approximately 67 % of fresh water in 2007 were abstracted by own supply business unit and the remainder is divided between providers - public water supply (water companies) and irrigation systems.

The pressure on water is assessed by the ratio: freshwater abstraction/available freshwater resources. Warning threshold is set around 20%, while consumption of more than 40 % indicates an unsustainable water use. Abstraction in the country after 1992 fall into the frameworks of sustainable development.