ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, October 18. The government of Turkmenistan is actively seeking to ensure sustainable water supply within its national socio-economic development program for 2011-2030 and short-term plans for 2019-2025, focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the report of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) on Drinking Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal in Central Asia said, Trend reports.
According to the information, one of the key objectives of the program is to create modern water treatment plants, desalination plants, and modernize existing water treatment facilities and water supply systems. These measures are aimed at a significant reduction of water resource losses and efficient water storage.
A total of 9,200 kilometers of new water supply networks and 1,600 kilometers of sewerage networks were constructed, and 587 wells were put into operation between 2008 and 2022. In the same period, eight water treatment plants and five sewage treatment plants were constructed.
Furthermore, work is regularly carried out to find new sources of drinking water. Further construction of desalination plants on the Caspian Sea coast and in the Aral Sea crisis zone, as well as complexes for wastewater treatment in the administrative centers of the country, are planned.
Despite these efforts, the implementation of projects to improve water supply faces serious financial problems. Turkmenistan lacks the domestic resources to meet all water supply and sanitation challenges. At the same time, the level of attracted external investments, including funds from international development banks, remains extremely low.
Meanwhile, to successfully implement its programs, Turkmenistan needs to increase investment, which will improve access of the population to quality water supply services and meet international standards in this area.
To note, the EDB has announced its intention to invest at least $400 million in Central Asia's water and energy sector over the next three years. According to EDB Board Chairman Nikolai Podguzov, successful resolution of existing problems in this area can increase the regional GDP growth rate by 1.5 percent per year and improve water use efficiency by 40 percent through the introduction of modern irrigation technologies and modernization of irrigation systems.