Strategy for Development and Management of the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector in the Republic of Bulgaria 2014-2023.

This Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) Sector Strategy updates and sets out for consideration by the Council of Ministers the main objectives and priorities for the WSS sector in the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as proposals for the implementation and financing of policies to achieve these objectives within a ten-year horizon. The strategy integrates the findings of consultations and intermediate analyses, including a regulatory review, public expenditure review, and strategic financing plan, produced and discussed with stakeholders since September 2012. Considering that many WSS capital investments have a long life time, both the expenditure needs assessment and the strategic financing plan were prepared for a 25-year time horizon. This provides assurance that the measures proposed in the ten-year strategy are in fact compatible with a sustainable WSS sector in the long term. The vision for the WSS sector is: A financially, technically and environmentally sustainable water supply and sanitation sector, providing value for money and affordable services to customers. Strategic Objectives of this text are as follows: Compliance-Water supply and sanitation stakeholders meet all national/European regulatory requirements; Sustainability-Water supply and sanitation services are environmentally, technically and financially viable; Affordability-Water supply and sanitation services are affordable for all consumers; Value for money-Bulgarian water supply and sanitation companies have efficiency and service quality performance equivalent to good European practice. To meet these strategic objectives, this text identifies a number of specific objectives to be achieved through fully financed measures (see Chapter 4).
This Strategy is divided into five main thematic Chapters as listed: 1. Analysis of Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Issues; 2. Analysis of Legislation, Regulatory and Institutional Issues; 3. Past Expenditures, Future Expenditure Needs and Funding Options for WSS Infrastructure; 4. Objectives, Measures, and Actions for Implementation; 5. Strategy Implementation and Action Plan.
This text is consistent with the Bulgarian National Strategy and Action Plan for Water Sector Management and Development in November 2012. This 2012 strategy outlines the overall vision for the water sector at large, including water resources management, hydropower, flood protection, irrigation, and water supply and sanitation, which provides for a more active role of the public authorities in developing and managing the sector. It also specifies the responsibilities of the various institutions in the preparation and implementation of the sub-sector strategies and plans, also implemented under Operational Programme Environment 2007-2013 co-financed by the European Union through the EU Cohesion Fund. The 2012 Water Strategy has four main objectives: Objective 1. Guaranteed water supply to the population and business under climate change conditions leading to drought; Objective 2. Protecting and improving the status of surface and ground water; Objective 3. Improving the efficiency of integrated management of the water as an economic resource; Objective 4. Decreasing the risk of and damage from floods.