Located near the Albena resort complex, the “Baltata” nature reserve is home to over 260 plant species, 28 of which are protected. Despite this, a sewage pipe is discharging untreated wastewater into the area, without undergoing proper purification at the nearby treatment facility. As a result, the “green heart of Albena” is under threat due to the inadequate handling of wastewater treatment.

As of today, following a video investigation by Ivelin Mihaylov, it is clearly visible that the pipeline remains open, running through the reserve into the Batovska River and ultimately discharging into the Black Sea. Despite reports submitted to the responsible institutions months ago, no concrete actions have been taken to resolve the issue. In this context, public statements by Boyko Borissov claiming that “Bulgaria has the cleanest sea” are outright lies.

The pipeline has been repeatedly damaged. After yet another so-called “repair attempt,” it was completely disconnected, resulting in the direct release of untreated water into the protected area. The Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) – Varna conducted an inspection but did not take water samples, citing a “stopped leak” as justification.

Although inspections were carried out by both RIEW and the Black Sea Basin Directorate, the results from samples collected in May 2025 have not been publicly disclosed.

On May 7, the Municipality of Balchik announced that the pipe was temporarily opened for repairs, but Mayor Nikolay Angelov admitted that no construction permit had been issued. Therefore, the repair work is being conducted illegally. According to documents from RIEW, polluted waters continue to flow into the Batova River, contradicting claims from the Dobrudja Water and Sewerage Company (ViK – Dobrich) that repairs are underway.

The ongoing pollution in the reserve not only threatens local ecosystems but also poses a health risk to tourists and residents using the nearby beaches and resorts.