Safe water in Bulgaria: notices, drought and what to store

Short answer. In Bulgaria, the state health control authorities ban or restrict tap water that may endanger health and must inform consumers at once ⁴. The fire and civil protection service (GDPBZN) asks households to keep food and water for 72 hours, with water "enough for the whole family for three days" ¹². After a flood, do not drink tap water that looks, smells or tastes wrong ¹.

How do I know if my tap water is unsafe?

Under Ordinance No. 9 of 2001 on drinking-water quality, when tap water may endanger health, the state health control authorities ban its supply or restrict its use. They must inform consumers immediately and give advice, including specific recommendations for vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women and the chronically ill ⁴. Water suppliers and the regional health inspectorates (RZI) decide what further action to take and update that advice regularly; consumers are told again once the danger has passed ⁴.

Phaenyx found no national register or feed of these orders, and the ordinance does not say through which channel consumers are told. In an emergency, GDPBZN tells people to check for current information from the competent authorities; national radio and television are important sources, and warnings can also come through the national early-warning sirens and BG-ALERT on mobile phones ¹. See our Bulgaria alerts page.

If you are told to boil water or not to drink it, follow the local instruction. For what each kind of notice means in practice, read What to do during a boil-water notice and Do-not-drink notices. If the water stops altogether, see No running water.

How much water should I store?

GDPBZN asks every household to prepare a "disaster backpack" with a first-aid kit, a torch, a phone charger, a radio, and food and water for 72 hours ¹. The official checklist gives no daily litre figure per person: bottled water should be enough for the whole family for three days ². Full details are on our Bulgaria emergency supplies page. To size your reserve, see How much water to store per person per day? and Water storage containers.

Is Bulgaria short of water?

Not on average. In WRI's Aqueduct 4.0 model, the population-weighted median of Bulgarian cities falls in the "low" category for current water stress and stays "low" in the 2050 business-as-usual projection, but it is "medium" for drought risk ³. These are city medians: a given town or river basin can sit higher or lower.

Phaenyx found no official national page listing drought levels or water restrictions in Bulgaria. For household steps, see Drought preparedness.

What if I have a private well?

Ordinance No. 9 does not cover water from individual or local sources unless it is used for commercial or social activity; for such water, the state health control authorities inform the population concerned and recommend measures where there is a potential health risk ⁴. Phaenyx found no official Bulgarian guidance for households on testing a private well. For what to do if a well may be contaminated, see Private well emergencies.

What should I do after a flood?

GDPBZN warns that floodwater may be contaminated with sewage and other pollutants and can cause illness and infection ¹. If the colour, smell or taste of your drinking water gives you reason to think it is contaminated, do not drink it; use bottled water or water supplied by the authorities ¹. Before a flood, GDPBZN suggests asking your municipality and the river basin directorates of the Ministry of Environment and Water about your flood risk ¹. See Water safety after a flood and Water purification.

A household plan can keep your water stock and local contacts in one place.

Frequently asked questions

How many litres of water per person does Bulgaria recommend?

None. The official checklist asks for water enough for the whole family for three days, without a litre figure ².

Who decides that tap water is unsafe to drink?

The state health control authorities, which ban or restrict the water and must warn consumers at once ⁴. Phaenyx found no national register; follow the competent authorities, national radio and TV, and BG-ALERT ¹.

Is tap water safe after a flood?

Not if its colour, smell or taste suggests contamination: use bottled or officially supplied water instead ¹.

Is Bulgaria at risk of drought?

The median Bulgarian city has low water stress but a "medium" drought risk in Aqueduct 4.0 ³.