Bulgaria intensifies Danube River monitoring amid low water levels

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) is intensifying monitoring of the Danube River due to ongoing low water levels. While initial analyses of surface and groundwater quality in the Bulgarian section of the river have not shown unusual deviations from safety standards, authorities are taking preventive measures.

The Danube River Basin Directorate – Pleven has reviewed data from the transnational monitoring network through July 2026. Testing was conducted at five specific locations: near Novo Selo, before the Iskar River confluence near Baykal, after Svishtov, before Ruse, and at the Silistra port.

To ensure a comprehensive assessment, two new investigative monitoring programs have been developed. These will cover both surface waters and groundwater connected to the river, specifically targeting areas with significant stagnation and facilities that extract water from Quaternary alluvial aquifers for drinking and domestic use. The Executive Agency on Environment will carry out two rounds of sampling, scheduled for late August to early September and mid-September 2026.