22 km of PE100 RC pipes upgrade Bulgarian municipal water network

Reliable water supply systems underpin modern communities. From households and businesses to public institutions, regular access to safe drinking water is integral to a functioning society.

In many areas of Bulgaria, existing water networks are made from decades-old fiber-cement pipes. These pipes were popular in much of Eastern Europe at the time, offering a cheap and corrosion-resistant alternative to metal. 

However, over time, fiber-cement pipes become brittle and prone to cracking. Not only does this cause leaks and reduce reliability in the water network, but the fiber-cement material can also release harmful asbestos particles when compromised. This makes attending to these networks extremely difficult and dangerous for maintenance workers.

Today, safer solutions are required to restore damaged sections of the network and ensure local communities have a water supply they can depend on for generations to come.

_{Building sustainable water networks for future generations}

The Burgas region in eastern Bulgaria is particularly vulnerable to the shortcomings of these old piping networks. As the municipality looked to rectify issues with efficiency and reliability in the water supply, Pipelife Bulgaria were called upon to provide their robust and proven water infrastructure products for reconstruction projects in the villages of Zagortsi and Konstantinovo.

In choosing Pipelife HDPE water pipes, the Kameno and Sredets municipalities in Burgas aimed to reduce long-term maintenance requirements and ensure a consistent water service for the community.

_{Proven PE100 RC pipes chosen for long-term reliability}  

Pipelife Bulgaria delivered 22 kilometers of PE100 RC pipes with diameters ranging from 32 to 140 mm.

PE100 RC pipes are highly durable and can withstand significant mechanical loads, making them perfect for the project’s installations under main roadways. Unlike standard polyethylene, PE100 RC has significantly higher resistance to point loads, scratches and slow-growing cracks, which are among the main causes of failures in water supply infrastructure.

New Pipelife PE100 RC pipes replaced areas of the existing fiber-cement network that had the highest incidences of leaks and were too small to deliver necessary water quantities.

Not only did this ensure sufficient water supply to local properties and increase efficiency, but it also removed dated infrastructure containing harmful asbestos particles. 

Pipelife Bulgaria and the contractor, Vodokanalstroi-Kostovi EOOD, have worked together on many projects over the years. Their collaboration is underpinned by Vodokanalstroi-Kostovi EOOD’s confidence in the quality and durability of Pipelife products, especially when it comes to intense and complex installations.  

_{A future-proof water network}

The partial reconstruction of water networks in Zagortsi and Konstantinovo was completed in autumn 2025 and new sections went into operation soon after. By replacing old fiber-cement lines with brand new highly durable HDPE piping, residents are already enjoying safer, more efficient access to drinking water.

Looking forward, local water operators are hopeful that this investment will reduce overall maintenance requirements and ensure a more reliable water supply in the region for many years to come.