National strategy for management and development of the water sector.

The Bulgarian National strategy for management and development of the water sector aimed for planned period until the year 2037 is the main sectoral planning document which sets general water management objectives and related set of actions.
Objectives and sub-objectives of this text are listed as follows: Objective 1: Guaranteed provision of water for the population and businesses in the conditions of climate changes leading to drought 1.1. Ensuring continuous water supply by rehabilitating existing and building new dams and reservoirs, rehabilitating the water supply network and water sources. 1.2. Reducing the total amount of water used through investments in water infrastructure and measures to improve the efficiency in the use of water resources. Objective 2: Preservation and improvement of the state of surface and underground waters 2.1. Elimination of the discharge of untreated wastewater into artificial and natural water intakes and into the Black Sea through the construction, reconstruction and modernization of wastewater removal and treatment systems. 2.2. Strengthening the institutional monitoring and control system to ensure the good condition of surface and underground waters. 2.3. Turning River Basin Management Plans into a basic planning document in integrated water management. Objective 3: Improving efficiency in the integrated management of water as an economic resource 3.1. Creation of an institutional framework to ensure the transfer of responsibility for decision-making in relation to the development of the water sector at the national, regional and local level from economic entities to public authorities - state, municipalities. 3.2. Funds from the population and business, EU funds and the required national co-financing to ensure self-financing of the water sector, in compliance with the "polluter and user pays" principle. 3.3. Capacity building of all participants in water sector management. Objective 4. Reducing the risk of flood damage 4.1. Identification of risk areas. 4.2. Implementation of measures from flood protection plans.
When preparing the National Strategy for the Management and Development of the Water Sector, the strategic planning methodology was applied, which also defines the main technological stages in the development of the strategy. The National Strategy for the Management and Development of the Water Sector has the following content: 1. Introduction; 2. Conclusions of the analysis of the state of the water sector; 3. Presentation of the results of the SWOT analysis; 4. Goal setting; 5. Alternatives to achieve of the goals for integrated management of water resources; 6. Development Strategy; 7. Action Plan; 8. Mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the National Strategy for Management and Development of the Water Sector and the Action Plan.