KRUMOVO, BULGARIA – Nearly 200 households in Krumovo, a village near Plovdiv, are grappling with a protracted water supply outage that has stretched into its fifth day, dampening New Year celebrations.
Despite tireless efforts from ViK-Plovdiv, the water utility responsible for the area, the issue remains unresolved, leaving residents frustrated and relying on costly alternative solutions.
The crisis began on December 29, when water supply unexpectedly failed, prompting a series of temporary fixes. However, these efforts have proven ineffective, and the situation has grown dire.
“Some houses have water, some don’t—it’s becoming unbearable,” said local resident Zdravka Todorova. Another villager, Radostina Ivanova, shared her distress at returning from vacation only to face the necessity of using bottled water for basic needs.
Financial and Social Strains Intensify
The prolonged outage has triggered a surge in demand for bottled water, putting financial pressure on households. Local shopkeeper Irina Ilieva described the spike in purchases, noting, “People are buying far more bottled water than usual. The situation is clearly taking a toll.”
While some residents have resorted to sharing water with neighbors or accessing boreholes, these makeshift solutions are insufficient for the needs of the entire community.
Aging Infrastructure Poses Challenges
The root of the problem lies in Krumovo’s aging water supply infrastructure, which complicates repair efforts. Teams from ViK-Plovdiv have been working since December 30, excavating multiple sites in search of the blockage or breakage in the network.
Eng. Ivan Marinov, a representative of ViK-Plovdiv, explained the difficulties. “The supply network is old and deteriorated, making it extremely challenging to locate the exact issue. We’re now exploring alternative connections from areas with a functioning supply to bypass the problematic section.”
Crews resumed work on January 3, focusing on a new location in the hope of restoring water to affected households.
However, progress has been slow, and skepticism among residents is mounting. Some questioned whether the utility company is employing modern diagnostic tools to address the issue more effectively.
Holiday Hardships and Local Leadership Response
Mayor Stoyan Minchev of Krumovo described the situation as “tragic,” particularly given its timing during the holiday season. “This is a distressing situation for our residents, and we are doing everything in our power to assist them,” Minchev said.
While the municipality has coordinated with ViK-Plovdiv to expedite repairs, Minchev acknowledged the severe limitations posed by the aging infrastructure. He estimated that approximately 200 households remain affected.
Uncertainty About Full Restoration
ViK-Plovdiv has pledged to identify the problematic section of the network by the end of the day, but the timeline for full restoration of service remains unclear.
In the meantime, affected residents continue to adapt as best they can, balancing the financial and logistical burdens of the ongoing water crisis.
The prolonged outage has drawn attention to the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades in Krumovo and similar communities, where deteriorating water supply systems threaten to disrupt daily life. For now, residents hope that their taps will soon bring long-awaited relief.