Geneses types (inflow and outflow) of groundwater regimes of Uzbekistan
KIZILKUM DESERT FRESHWATER DRINKING SUPPLY RESOURCES
The following major problems exist in regard to the use of water resources in Uzbekistan:
• insufficient safe drinking water supply for the population (especially in rural areas);
• existing irrigation practices are highly wasteful and inefficient;
• poor management of water resources and
• inadequate incentives for conservation.
As a result, 40% of fresh groundwater is completely unsuitable for drinking.
This trend will likely continue without changes in management procedures.
Groundwater stream and groundwater basins of Uzbekistan
• There are 94 major aquifers in Uzbekistan.
• Renewable groundwater resources are estimated at 19.68 km3/year, of which 12.88 km3/year are considered to be overlap with surface resources.
• Limits to groundwater abstraction for each aquifer in Central Asia have been established.
• It is permitted to use only such groundwater quantities that do not cause surface flow reduction. This quantity is estimated at 6.8 km3/year.
• However, the actual groundwater abstraction is estimated at 7.5 km3/year, which thus leads to surface flow reduction.
The Bukhara provinceproject tackles a combination of inter-linked socio-economic and environmental problems, including:
• drinking water which is often in short supply and of poor quality;
• irrigation water often in short supply, especially in drought years, and highly mineralized;
• irrigated land in poor condition due to soil exhaustion and salinization;
• high population density;
• high anthropogenic (human impacted) loads on natural resources; and
• unemployment, especially among women.
+ =
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Diffuse goiter Chronic gastritis Chronic cholecystitis Chronic enterocolitis Gastric illnesses Stomach ulcer diseases
April 2003 September 2002
Results of medical examinations of 814 people in Iransha village
(Bukhara Province) before and after a well supplying safe drinking water was installed and became operational on 5 December 2002.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
• Drinking water supply in Bukhara district is an acute issue.
• Cabinet of Ministers passed a resolution to investigate measures to develop efficient water supplies for the cities of Bukhara and Samarkand with participation of World and International Development and Reconstruction Banks.
• Within Bukhara itself, there is also need for Government support to help local people begin to take advantage of their new water supply.
• In general, social and economic indices in the region are sufficiently positive for entrepreneurs to develop small and medium-sized businesses. However, even if local banks are eager to support entrepreneurs by providing loans and micro-credits, few would-be entrepreneurs have the required knowledge and business management skills to make use of these financing facilities.
• For example, discussions with some local entrepreneurs have revealed that many do not know about credit unions in the city of Bukhara. This means that many with viable ideas do not intend to start a business as, in the perceived absence of such support mechanisms, they lack the courage to do so.
LESSONS LEARNED
• Gathering views of the local public by conducting surveys at the beginning of the project provided essential information to present to local administration authorities.
• Armed with this background information and a full explanation of the objectives of the project, administrators readily gave necessary permissions for drilling and laying down pipelines.
CONCLUSIONS
The potentials of the local sources of underground water in Kizilkum desert have been examined.
The designed project significantly improved water supply to the rural population of local shirkats with fresh water.
The potential of underground water stocks in the Bukhara region require further studies and definition to avoid damage to their possible exploration and development.
Due to the humanitarian support provided within by the Convention on Combating Desertification and Drought, (UNCCDD), practical help was provided for the rural population who live in areas with highest impacts of desertification and drought. It also improved the health condition of the population from about 20 to 45%.
PLANS FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENT AND PROJECT EXPANSION:
At present there is an Investment program on drinking water supply at Bukhara and Samarkand districts using groundwater resources. Collaboration plans include the following:
• Presentation of results on national level (publications in newspapers, magazines, presentation at national Workshops and Meetings)
• Presentation of results at International workshops and Meetings with participation of organizations involved in environmental issues
• Video-film demonstration about trend of project implementation
• Investigation program development and submission it to the Centre on Science and Technology of the Republic of Uzbekistan to obtain a implementation grant
• Development of project proposal and submission to GEF, INTAS and other funds for grants.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The scientific investigations and also humanitarian assistance to the rural population were done thanks to the GTZ-CCD Project (Dr.
Günter Winckler ) within the framework of the Sub-regional Program on actions to combat desertification in the Aral Sea Basin.
Uzbekistan
Sergey Myagkov, Hydrometeorological Research Institute, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Groundwater mineralization increases with distance from the Zeravshan River (heavy line) (values in g/liter).
Diagram showing depth of freshwater aquifer across Uzbekistan. In the Bukhara region, it ranges from about 60 metres to 150 metres below the surface.
