Drinking Water - The Times Of Central Asia

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Drinking Water

$60 Million Project to Bring Clean Drinking Water to 158,000 People in Southern Kyrgyzstan

More than 158,000 residents of Kyrgyzstan’s southern Osh Region are expected to gain access to clean drinking water under a new infrastructure project backed by the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD). The project was agreed during talks between Kyrgyz authorities and EFSD representatives, according to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry. The EFSD will provide a $60 million loan for the initiative, while the government will contribute $6.7 million in co-financing, bringing the total project cost to $66.7 million. The project will target 32 villages in the Kara-Suu and Uzgen districts of Osh Region, one of the country’s most densely populated areas. According to the ministry, only about 65% of the region’s population currently has access to safe drinking water. Approximately 158,000 residents continue to rely on aging water systems built between the 1950s and 1980s or on unsafe water sources. The project includes the construction and rehabilitation of more than 890 kilometers of water supply and distribution networks, the drilling of 33 artesian wells, the construction of 54 water reservoirs, and the installation of 11 pumping stations. Authorities say the upgrades will provide a stable and safe water supply to participating communities. The initiative also includes sanitation improvements, with 95 sanitation facilities in schools, kindergartens, and primary healthcare facilities scheduled for renovation. The project is expected to be implemented over five years, with the financing agreement due to be signed by the end of June. Access to clean drinking water remains one of Kyrgyzstan’s most pressing infrastructure challenges, particularly in rural areas. According to Bakyt Torobaev, who previously served as deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and minister of water resources, agriculture, and processing industry, the country requires approximately $1.2 billion in investment to resolve drinking water supply issues in 960 villages nationwide. Government data show that of Kyrgyzstan’s 2,014 villages, only 796 currently have reliable access to clean drinking water. Water supply systems are under construction in 258 villages, while 960 communities remain without adequate service.

Drinking Water

Uzbekistan Targets 85% Drinking Water Access by 2030

Uzbekistan aims to provide 85% of its population with access to drinking water services by 2030, according to a draft strategy prepared by the Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of Uzbekistan. The proposal forms part of a broader development roadmap focused on sustaining reform momentum and advancing national priorities through the end of the decade. The document outlines a gradual increase in drinking water coverage: 82% by 2026, 83% in 2027, 84% in 2028 and 2029, and reaching 85% by 2030. Officials say the targets reflect a long-term effort to modernize water infrastructure and improve living conditions in both urban and rural communities. The strategy also prioritizes public institutions. Authorities plan to ensure that, by 2030, all preschools and general secondary schools will have access to clean drinking water and be equipped with modern sanitation and hygiene systems. The focus aligns with national concerns over public health and the learning environment for children. The draft includes measures to enhance the efficiency of water use nationwide. Uzbekistan aims to boost water-use efficiency by 25%, ensure 100% metering of drinking water consumers, and reduce critically affected groundwater areas to 773,400 hectares. The government is also pursuing major infrastructure and agricultural initiatives. A key component is the planned expansion of the Tuyamuyun water reservoir’s capacity by 1 billion cubic meters. The project is expected to secure water supply for 1.2 million hectares of land, build strategic reserves of drinking water, and improve resilience to drought and shortages. Additionally, the plan promotes the cultivation of drought-resistant crops and high-yield varieties of fruits and grapes tailored to Uzbekistan’s climate, with the goal of increasing agricultural productivity by 30-35%. The renewed emphasis on water management comes as Uzbekistan faces mounting pressure on its water resources. Earlier, Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamahmudov informed lawmakers in the Legislative Chamber of the country's parliament, the Oliy Majlis, that electricity generation at the country’s hydropower plants had dropped sharply due to water scarcity. According to him, inflows to major hydropower facilities had fallen by 35% compared with the previous year, significantly impacting power output.

Water crisis

Kyrgyzstan Highlights Water Crisis at FAO’s Rome Water Dialogue

Kyrgyzstan requires $1.2 billion in investment to resolve drinking water supply issues in 960 villages nationwide, Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobayev announced during the Rome Water Dialogue 2025. The event took place at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome. According to the ministry, Kyrgyzstan has 2,014 villages, but only 796 currently have access to clean drinking water. While pipeline construction is underway in 258 villages, 960 remain without a reliable supply. “If we don’t invest the necessary funds today, restoring the lost potential tomorrow will cost three times as much. It’s time to give water the same level of attention as oil and gas,” Torobayev told the international forum. The minister emphasized that the conservation and rational use of water resources is one of the most urgent challenges in Central Asia. Accelerated climate change and population growth are intensifying water shortages and threatening food security across the region. Torobayev noted that approximately 10 million people in Central Asia still lack access to clean drinking water. He also cited figures showing that 80% of the region’s water infrastructure is outdated, with water losses reaching up to 55%. He underscored the importance of protecting Kyrgyzstan’s mountain glaciers, which serve as critical water sources for major regional rivers that supply neighboring countries, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Another urgent issue, according to the minister, is the declining water level in Lake Issyk-Kul, a body of water with regional environmental and climatic significance. “The tragic example of the Aral Sea shows that the loss of natural resources can lead to irreversible consequences. Water security is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of national and global sustainable development,” Torobayev warned.

Access to Clean Water

Uzbekistan Wants To Produce Drinking Water From the Air

Uzbekistan has tested an innovative unit for extracting moisture from the atmosphere to create drinking water. Sergei Dorzhiev, head of the Russian company Aquagenica which developed the technology, states that it was previously utilized in Russia and African countries, but more difficult climatic conditions were required for the final test of the equipment, which is why the Kyzylkum desert was chosen. The plant, which was launched in the Navoi Free Economic Zone (FEZ) in July, has now completed its tests, and according to FEZ director Habib Abdullayev, the equipment can produce up to 1,000 liters of clean water daily. “The machine works in extreme conditions of hot-dry climate with water content from 4 g/m3 and higher in atmospheric air and in the temperature range from 10-70 degrees Celsius. At the same time, foreign analogs extract water from the air at a humidity of 8-10 g/m3 of air and above in the temperature range of 20-40 degrees Celsius. We expect our installation will help solve problems with access to good quality drinking water,” said Dorzhiev. The unusual installation is expected to begin serial production in 2025. More than 30 African and Asian countries have already expressed interest in producing equipment for extracting water from the air. In various countries, atmospheric moisture extraction technologies are becoming an important solution to freshwater scarcity. One of the most promising approaches is using atmospheric water generators (AWGs), capable of producing potable water from moisture in the air. In the United States, such plants have been successfully used to help provide clean water to communities. Similar technologies have also been implemented in the United Arab Emirates.

Water Management

Ecological Limit: Five Year Countdown to Water Scarcity in Central Asia

Combating climate change requires collective action by all or a sufficient majority of the world's players supporting global initiatives. Otherwise, it may soon be too late to take any action. To address the issue, the Eurasian Development Bank, the CAREC Think Tank, and the Asian Development Bank organized a two-day forum entitled “The Climate Challenge: Thinking Beyond Borders for Collective Action,” in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Focusing on means of achieving genuine regional cooperation on Asian climate action, the eighth CAREC Think Tank Development Forum was attended by policymakers, experts, and opinion leaders from more than 30 countries. The extensive two-day dialog, consisting of eight sessions, opened with a discussion on the effectiveness of current global initiatives related to climate change: the Paris Agreement, the Global Environment Facility, and the Green Climate Fund. Attention then turned to deepening cooperation among as many stakeholders as possible through multilateral platforms such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Asia's role in the global fight against climate change, and the difficult balancing act between economic growth and decarbonization efforts were discussed at length. Simply put, the rapid growth of the Asian economy is inevitably accompanied by an increasing consumption of energy, the generation of which leads to increased emissions and pollution. Climate damage due to human impact can be halted and even reversed. However, because this can only be achieved with technological intervention, it poses problems for developing economies unable to afford advanced technologies. Hence, establishing a framework and mechanisms for global technology transfer were key to discussions. Water and finance were also high on the agenda and the subject of a paper presented by Arman Ahunbaev, Head of the Center for Infrastructure and Industrial Research of the Eurasian Development Bank on “Ways to close the investment gap in the drinking water supply and wastewater sector in Central Asia." Ahunbaev reported that 10 million people, or 14% of the population in Central Asia, do not have access to safe drinking water and warned that without intervention, the situation would reach the point of no return in the coming years. To prevent this from happening, he stressed the urgent need for solutions to four problems. The first problem is a twofold increase in the volume of water intake for municipal and domestic needs, based on past figures which showed a growth from 4.2 cubic kilometers in 1994 to 8.6 cubic kilometers in 2020. The second problem is the severe deterioration of water supply infrastructure and treatment equipment, and the third, technological and commercial water losses in distribution networks. The fourth problem is related to the demographic boom and, consequently, the rapid urbanization of Central Asia's population. Cities are expanding and their infrastructure needs to develop accordingly. According to experts, in 2023, urbanization in Central Asian countries will reach 49%, and by 2050, 61%. By 2030, the urban population will exceed that in rural areas. Ahunbaev noted the need for improvement in financing the water supply and sanitation sector in Central Asia since according to rough...

Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Drinking Water Sustainability Investment Water Management

Focus on Central Asia’s Acute Shortage of Drinking Water

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has declared water availability a particularly acute challenge in Central Asia, given that 10 million people, or 14% of the region’s population, currently lack access to safe drinking water. Between 1994 and 2020, water withdrawals for municipal and domestic needs doubled to 8.6 cubic kilometres. However, since investment in drinking water falls short of meeting the growing demand, the infrastructure for the supply and treatment of water has severely deteriorated. The challenges facing the sector highlight the need for large-scale investment in water supply and sanitation in Central Asia. The annual funding deficit to meet the targets of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 6 (to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all) is estimated to reach US $2 billion by 2025–2030. In response, EDB analysts have prepared a report to assess the level of investment required by the region to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal by 2030, including proposals for practical steps to secure the necessary funding. Titled “Water and Sanitation in Central Asia”, the report will be launched on 28 June at the Eurasian Development Bank’s Business Forum in Almaty, Kazakhstan.