15.5.2007

Bulgaria Faces Extreme Drought, Water Crisis in Summer 07

Bulgaria is menaced by facing a devastating drought in the summer and autumn months of 2007, the head of the Waters Directorate in the Environment Ministry warned Tuesday.

Assen Lichev said in an interview for Darik News the May flow of the rivers in the whole country is extremely alarming. Only two rivers still keep the average level of water in the riverbeds, namely Ogosta and Tundzha. The most alarming condition of the river levels is in the Black Sea region, he said.

The country's fertile lands may now turn into a real desert, as the level of underground waters is also extremely low. The disturbing thing is that there will be not enough water for irrigating the vegetables that are just starting to grow, because there will be not enough drinking water.

The regions in the country that face real threat to be left without water supplies are located in the north, in the region of the Dobrudzha mountain and part of the Thracian lowlands. This means that people who live there should immediately start curbing the amount of water they use; otherwise the municipalities will have to impose austerity measures.

The irrigating season is close to a failure, the crop this year will be very poor, Lichev warned.

The abnormally high temperatures in Bulgaria will lead to extreme drought, but the sun already made people to take off the heavy clothes and get some tan. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)

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