Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The significance of drinking water supply and wastewater services in ensuring public well-being and health is unparalleled. In Uzbekistan, the development of this sector and the regular, high-quality provision of drinking water to the population have become priority areas of state policy.

Over the past eight years, 27.5 trillion soums have been allocated to drinking water supply and wastewater services. Of this amount, 16.5 trillion soums were provided from the state budget, while $1 billion came from investments by international financial institutions. These funds have been used to construct 3,627 facilities and 40,600 kilometers of drinking water supply and wastewater networks.

Notably, 4.9 million people gained access to centralized drinking water supply for the first time, while water supply services were improved for 11.5 million people. Additionally, 1.1 million residents were connected to sewer systems. As a result, the coverage of drinking water services increased from 63% to 80.9%, while wastewater services coverage rose from 17.2% to 20.9%.

The practical outcomes of these reforms are reflected in large-scale regional projects. In particular, under a project based on the Tupolang Reservoir, 147 kilometers of networks were built, significantly improving the supply and quality of drinking water for 141,000 residents in the Sariasi, Denau, Shurchi, and Kumkurgan districts of the Surkhandarya region.

In the Jizzakh region, the use of water from the Zarafshan River improved the drinking water supply for 286,000 residents in the Dustlik, Pakhtakor, and Mirzachul districts, as well as the city of Jizzakh.

As a result of the "Oqsuv-Dekhkanabad" project in the Kashkadarya region, 76,000 residents of the Dekhkanabad district gained access to centralized drinking water supply for the first time. The district’s drinking water coverage increased from 1.8% to 51.7%.

Another major project was the reconstruction of the "Kodiriya" water facility in the Tashkent region. Following the project's implementation, 8,000 residents gained access to centralized drinking water supply for the first time, and the water supply was significantly improved for 265,000 residents.

At the beginning of this year, 275,000 residents in the Alat and Karakul districts of the Bukhara region gained access to centralized drinking water supply for the first time, bringing the region's drinking water coverage to 74%.

The sector’s digitalization and the introduction of modern management systems ensure transparency and accuracy, helping to reduce human intervention and, consequently, corruption risks. As part of the industry’s modernization, digital technologies have been widely implemented, including the launch of the unified billing system "UzWater," which has enhanced payment transparency and replaced five previously separate billing systems. Additionally, an improved consumer portal has been introduced, allowing users to view payment records by year and month, make payments, and submit meter readings.

A map of infrastructure facilities and networks has been created using a Geographic Information System (GIS). A corresponding license was obtained from the Cadastre Agency, and a 2022–2026 action plan was developed for establishing and maintaining the GIS system. Data on point and linear objects from regional water supply enterprises have been compiled into a unified geographic layer in vector format.

As of today, a fully operational GIS database has been established in the cities of Chirchiq, Nurafshan, and Akhangaran in the Tashkent region, as well as partially in Gulistan and Yangiyer in the Syrdarya region. Work in this area has also commenced in the Namangan and Khorezm regions. Nationwide, 38 major water facilities have been digitized.

A remote monitoring and automated management system based on SCADA technology has been introduced. This system is being implemented at new facilities in Tashkent, Bukhara, and Jizzakh.

Ensuring the quality and safety of drinking water is of paramount importance for public health. To this end, the "Water Lab" information system is being introduced to monitor water quality and safety. This initiative will significantly expand water quality control capabilities across the country. Existing laboratories have been fully digitized, and reports are now maintained in electronic format.

During President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s historic visit to France, major agreements were reached with the company "SUEZ" regarding drinking water supply. Under this collaboration, a two-stage project aimed at improving drinking water supply in the Surkhandarya region will be implemented.

In the first phase, modern management systems will be introduced in the Denau, Sariasi, Shurchi, and Kumkurgan districts with the participation of SUEZ specialists. Specifically, an automated SCADA system will be installed, a GIS map of 3,500 km of drinking water networks will be developed, 3,100 water meters and 15 flow control devices will be installed, and 450 local specialists will undergo advanced training based on international best practices.

In the second phase, network management and expansion will be carried out under a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with a foreign partner selected through a "Swiss Challenge" tender process. As a result, water supply operations will be fully transferred to a private partner, and drinking water coverage will reach 90%.

This year, 7 trillion soums will be allocated to expanding drinking water supply and wastewater services, including 1.1 trillion soums from the state budget and $454 million from international financial institutions. These funds will be used to construct:

23 water facilities

139 water distribution and pumping stations

2,140 km of networks

225,000 water meters

As a result, 712,000 residents will gain access to drinking water for the first time, while 135,000 households will be connected to wastewater services. Drinking water coverage will reach 82.8%, while wastewater service coverage will increase to 22.3%.

Particular attention is being paid to digitalization for the effective management of water infrastructure. From 2025 to 2029, a project worth $125 million, titled "Improving Water Resource Management Through Climate Technologies," will be implemented with the participation of the Asian Development Bank.

Key measures include:

Installing 4,838 ultrasonic water meters and 2,861 data transmission devices

Implementing a GIS system for 80,000 km of drinking water and wastewater networks and 12,700 facilities

Establishing 15 data centers

A unified national control center and regional information centers will be set up, enabling precise water accounting and emergency response management. Technical water losses will be accurately measured, and total losses will be reduced by 5%.

Furthermore, an agreement has been reached with the UAE-based company "Envirol" to enhance wastewater system efficiency and environmental safety. Under this agreement, Envirol will invest $50 million to install grease traps in food establishments, with the collected fats being processed at a new recycling plant. This plant will produce household soap and lubricants, reducing the burden on water treatment facilities while improving economic and environmental efficiency.

In summary, Uzbekistan is undergoing comprehensive reforms to modernize its water infrastructure through international cooperation and the implementation of advanced technologies. These efforts are fundamentally improving the quality of life for the population and ensuring the country's sustainable environmental and economic development.