Country Profile Regulation Country Dashboards Country Tariffs Bulgaria is a country in Southeast Europe, situated in the eastern part of the Balkan peninsula. Surrounded by five neighboring countries, its territory covers an area of 111,000 km2 with access to the Black Sea. The country is divided into 27 provinces, plus the metropolitan capital province (Sofia). These provinces are further subdivided into 265 municipalities. Country Overview Year Population 2021 6,899,125 Country Area (km2) 2020 111,000 GDP (billion USD) 2021 80.27 GDP per capita (USD) 2021 11,635 World Bank Income Group 2021 Upper middle Income World Bank Region 2021 Europe & Central Asia Source: World Bank Data Bulgaria Water and wastewater Sector Structure The water sector is regulated at the national level. Water and wastewater services are delivered by 64 water and wastewater service providers, covering 100% of the market. Out of that number, 56 are state owned (14 are multi-city utilities and managed by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works). The 29 regional water companies are the largest service providers in terms of population served, while the rest of service providers serve and are owned by single municipalities. The water service in the capital city of Sofia is the only water concession awarded to a private company. Authority Level Role Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works National Coordinates the management of water supply and sewerage systems at the national level. It implements the state water policy and acts as a principal owner of 14 regional companies. Ministry of Environment and Water National Responsible for overall environmental protection and water resources management Ministry of Health National Responsible for monitoring drinking water quality. Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (ERWC) National Multi-sector independent regulatory authority responsible for regulation of the water and wastewater sector in the country. Number of WSS Service Providers 64 Ownership Public, Private and PPP Service Type Water and Wastewater Geographic Scope Municipal and Regional The energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) is a national multi-sector regulatory agency that exercises regulatory powers over four sectors: electricity, central heating, natural gas, and water supply and sanitation services. The independent regulator was established in 1999 and the authority for water sector regulation was gained in 2005. Water regulation authority spans four different departments: Prices and business plans – water supply and sewerage services, Control and dispute resolution – water supply and sewerage services, and Territorial units North Bulgaria and South Bulgaria. According to the Law on Regulation of water supply and sewerage service from 2005, quality of service and service provider effectiveness is monitored through 15 key performance indicators, further elaborated in 72 sub-indicators. They are all part of operators' business plans annually delivered to the regulatory authority. Mission To ensure the quality and availability of public services to consumers, balancing the interests of suppliers and consumers. Water and Wastewater Regulations Legislation and Policies Year Description Water Act 1999 Governs water sector in the country and determines the responsibilities of institutions involved in the sector Law on Regulation of water supply and sewerage services 2005 Provides the main legal framework for the country's water supply and sewerage sector regulation, mainly EWRC's responsibilities and duties. Regulation No. 9 on the quality of water intended for drinking and household purposes 2001 Sets out the requirements for the quality of water intended for drinking and household purposes in order to protect human health against the negative impact of drinking water pollution Areas of Regulation Areas Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) Tariff Calculation Y Tariff Approval Y Licensing Water and/or Wastewater Service Providers N Business plans approvals Y Performance indicators monitoring Y Economic Data Collection Y Technical Data Collection Y Coming Soon Utility Date Link Sofiyska voda AD 2021 Tariff Plovdiv 2020 Tariff A more complete list of tariffs can be found in the IBNET Tariff Database - Bulgaria