Sveti Vlas residents to protest wastewater crisis

Residents of Sveti Vlas and the Nesebar Municipality have organized a protest to demand a solution to the critical wastewater treatment crisis in the region. On September 18, 2026, at 09:00, an initiative committee plans to block the Burgas–Varna road near the Kosharitsa checkpoint with a human chain for approximately 30 minutes.

The protest is driven by the deteriorating state of the Elenite wastewater treatment plant, which has seen no significant technical improvements in 27 years. A major accident at the facility on August 12, 2026, caused seawater pollution, leading the Burgas Regional Health Inspectorate to close the Istok beach. This incident has caused significant financial damage to local businesses and the tourism sector during the peak season.

The protesters are demanding that state institutions provide a concrete plan with specific deadlines by November 1, 2024, and ensure a functional wastewater treatment solution is in place by May 15, 2027. The initiative committee has sent official letters to the Prime Minister and the ministries of regional development, environment, finance, and tourism, as well as the Burgas regional governor.