Sveti Vlas beach faces sewage contamination and closures

A sewage leak at the central beach in Sveti Vlas has led to the temporary closure of the 'Istok' beach area. An inspection by the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIOSV) in Burgas revealed that untreated wastewater entered the Black Sea due to a malfunction in the automated control system of the Sveti Vlas pumping station.

Experts discovered a concrete collector, acting as an emergency overflow, which was leaking wastewater characterized by a foul odor and yellow-brown discoloration. The failure caused wastewater to bypass treatment and discharge directly into the sea. As a result, RIOSV is issuing an administrative violation against the water utility company, ViK Burgas.

Local property owners in the area have reported long-standing health issues, including viral infections, which they attribute to the compromised sewage infrastructure. Residents claim that the local wastewater treatment plant has been operating in an emergency mode or has been non-functional for years, leading to continuous environmental degradation. Authorities have ordered immediate repairs to bring the pumping facilities back into effective operation.