The average loss of water in the water distribution system of the country is 65%, according to the statistics presented by the caretaker Minister of Regional Development Violeta Koritarova. The data come in the backdrop of news of water shortages that plagued Bulgarians all summer as the problems in many places have not ended.

The three most affected districts are Shumen, Pernik and Sliven, where water losses exceed 80 percent.

“Losses are divided into two types - commercial, caused by incorrect measurement and theft, and physical, i.e. the leakage of water from the water transmission network,” engineer Kliment Georgiev from "Water Supply and Sewerage" in Pleven told Nova TV.

"Commercial losses have been underestimated for years and a large percentage of physical losses are the result of a large number of hidden leaks," said engineer Lozko Lozev, executive director of "Bulgarian Waterworks Holding". According to him, in the next 5 years the water transmission network would need investments in the amount of EUR 10.2 billion.