In the village of Gorna Studena near the Danube, retired agricultural expert Rumyana Tsoneva has grown used to one thing: an empty tap. When it finally runs, water lasts just a few hours, forcing her to choose between filling cans, running the washing machine or taking a shower.
"The problems date back 15 years, but every year the situation gets worse," she said. "This year, we switched to rationing as early as June."
As the climate warms, leaking pipes lose precious water before it reaches homes. Bulgaria, the EU's poorest country, relies on a network of aging pipelines, some laid before World War II. Combined with water theft and poor resource management, these stresses are pushing rural communities to the brink of a full-blown water crisis.
For villagers like Tsoneva, every drop counts. When the flow returns, they race to fill containers and run essential chores. Until infrastructure is upgraded and leaks are fixed, many in Gorna Studena will wake up wondering if today will bring running water or empty taps.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
