Plovdiv Regional Worskhop

4 November, 2019

The participatory workshop of Plovdiv region was carried out in the city of Plovdiv at 30^th of October 2019.

The methodology used in the regional workshop in Plovdiv was classical using presentations related to the topic of SUWANU EUROPE project. Presentations done during the workshop supported the audience in better understanding of the problems and the opportunities of water reuse for irrigation. The findings obtained in SWOT and PEST analyses were discussed in three thematic groups with the purpose to get possible solutions, ideas, strategies for action, to support the creation of regional and general action plans.

The aim of the workshop carried out in Plovdiv was to present the SUWANU EUROPE at regional level and to promote realization of the project between the actors and the society.

One of the specific subjects that stressed the attention of attendees was the estate of irrigation network and the unfeasibility of the irrigation infrastructure to provide farmers with water, presented by member of the State owned company Irrigation Systems EAD, Maritsa Branch. The company provides water for irrigation, industrial and drinking water supply, drainage and protection from flooding of agricultural lands, industrial sites, settlements and others. The presentation was very interesting. It touched on issues related to the state of the irrigation infrastructure available, the scope of activities, irrigation areas and crops, the quantities of irrigation water supplied, major issues and future plans of the company.

Other particular subject, that is typical for the region was the case of Essential oil distillery’ treated water reuse for irrigation of rose and lavender plants. The technology of the process was presented during the seminar. It became clear, that the water used for distillation process is only river or dam water, after it passes through filters to eliminate physical impurities. Water resulted from the distillation process was used for irrigation after precipitation of the impurities and cooling. No water from the water supply network was used for irrigation, because it is chlorinated and that can alter the quality of rose petals and worsen the quality of oil and water derived. The water used in distilleries is checked and analyzed by regional sanitary inspectorates. Some challenges in the utilization of waste products from the processing of rose blossom through water distillation were discussed.

By utilizing waste products from the processing of rose blossom – pink marbles and rose marble juice, several goals and effects are achieved: i) ensuring sustainable agriculture in the production of rose oil blossom; ii) increasing efficiency in the production of rose water and rose oil and increasing competitiveness in international markets; iii) solving a number of environmental problems and pollution of rivers due to the utilization of significant volumes of bio-waste.

Very interesting was the presentation by the East Aegean Basin Directorate, which presented the regulatory framework for the use of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes. The draft Regulation on Minimum Requirements for the Reuse of Wastewater was presented, as well as the existing regulatory framework. Regional and national challenges to the implementation of the Regulation in Bulgaria and in particular in the Plovdiv region were also discussed.

During the regional workshop, a presentation was made of the successful implementation of the use of reclaimed domestic water in agriculture. WWTP of Hisarya has been operating since 2010 and discharges the reclaimed water into the Blue River dam, which is used by Irrigation Systems EAD for irrigation of the lands in the region. The technology of reclamation, the capacity of the station, the monitoring of the water quality and compliance with the requirements of the environmental legislation were explained. It was explained that WWTP itself is a waste-free technology, because in addition to the utilization of water for irrigation of crops, composting of the sludge from the process is carried out, and the compost is used for the fertilization of the gardens and parks in the city.

Another presentation of the meeting was about domestic water reclamation through membrane technologies, which are a high-tech alternative to conventional treatment. The application of these technologies can partially solve the problem of future shortage of irrigation water in agriculture worldwide due to climate change.

During the regional workshop in Plovdiv three working groups were created, divided by strategic lines: Legal framework and administrative procedures – red color, EU public policies and cooperation – blue color and Innovations, development and marketing channels in yellow. The groups discussed the results and lessons learned from the SWOT analysis and the possibilities of overcoming the shortcomings and improving the positive aspects. Each group was guided and supported by facilitator (Mr. Stefan Shilev – red group, Mrs. Violeta Dirimanova – the yellow group and Mrs. Antoniya Danailova – the blue group), with the aim to ensure active participation of the attendees and create an enabling discussions.