Residents of Golyamo Gradishte, a village in the Opaka Municipality of Targovishte Province, have launched a petition in response to months of ongoing water supply disruptions and poor water quality.
The campaign, initiated after a community meeting led by GERB municipal councilors Miroslav Georgiev and Sedat Mehmedov, calls for urgent action to restore regular water service and improve water conditions.
Local residents say water flows from their taps only every other day, severely affecting daily life. Alongside the interruptions, concerns have also grown over declining water quality. The collected signatures are expected to be submitted this weekend to Opaka Mayor Guner Aşimov, the Targovishte Water and Sewerage Authority (ViK), the Targovishte Regional Administration, and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.
Mayor announces €2.5 million project to overhaul water system
Opaka Mayor Guner Aşimov responded to public concerns by announcing that the municipality has received approval for a 5-million-lev (approximately €2.5 million) project to fully modernize Golyamo Gradishte’s water network. He added that the grant agreement is expected to be signed in the near future.
According to the mayor, the project will be implemented in three stages. The municipality plans to apply for funding for the first two phases through the State Fund Agriculture, while the third phase will be financed under the 2026 national budget.
The primary cause of the water shortages, Aşimov said, is the aging water infrastructure, which results in an estimated 93% water loss. The municipality has reportedly been in communication with relevant institutions for more than two years to find a sustainable solution.
The mayor also noted that residents have been briefed on the details of the project and the measures planned to address the issue.
