Hydrolia at 10 years: Our clients have learned that we observe water processes with a different perspective

Ten years might be a small part of the history for multinational industrial giants, but for an innovative company this is a period, that is equal to market sustainability and high client trust. This is why the 10 year anniversary of Hydrolia, specialized in the complex services for the control of water supply and sewage assets in the private sector, is an occasion for both reflection and analysis of the business model, which to this day remains unique to the Balkans. At the end of 2025, when the company celebrated its 10^th birthday, we spoke with its CEO, Dobromir Simidchiev, regarding the difficult start, the path the company took, and the company’s relation to water resources. Here is what he shared with the BalkanEngineer.com team.

Hydrolia is a company that offers complete outsourcing of water network and facility management – ​​a service that is not often found in such a comprehensive manner. How did the idea even come about?

The idea, firstly, did not come spontaneously. Secondly, it took us a lot of time to realize it.

Myself and like-minded people have observed similar models in England, Spain, and France, where the large water and sewage operators, with the appropriate resources and know-how, offered services and for the private sector, in other words – "after the water meter". Because that is where the line of responsibility between the public service and the consumer lies.

And how was Hydrolia actually founded?

Initially we were five people – specialists from the sector, like minded people and colleagues. Together we developed the idea, sketched out the plans and at the end of 2015, founded Hydrolia.

At that moment none of us had the chance to dedicate ourselves to this completely, so that’s why we hired an outside person, to help move things forward. The beginning, like other beginnings, was very difficult. Before long, I took over the tasks entirely and within a few months I was the only employee in the company.

Do you remember the first client?

Of course, the first client was a large meat processing plant. Our first invoice was for 5,000 leva – I was very happy because this was the first revenue earned entirely by our team. The first big contract came in July 2017 – a large holiday complex on the Black Sea coast.

Photo source: Hydrolia, ©Engineer.BG via Canva