Water Management in Central Asia

International Ataturk Alatoo University,Department of

International RelationsSaida Umarova

Title“The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic

uses. An adequate amount of safe water is necessary to prevent death from dehydration, reduce the risk of water-related disease and

provide for consumption, cooking, personal and domestic hygienic requirements”.

(General Comment 15, CESCR, 2002)

CONSERVE TO PRESESRVE

Introduction • Central Asia faces big water-related

challenges, among them water scarcity, degrading water quality and inefficient water use. Climate change may even aggravate the situation. These challenges can be met only in a joint effort of all Central Asian states.

Problems Water scarcity • GLOBAL PROBLEM • ACUTE IN CENTRAL ASIA. • SEVERE OVER-EXPLOITATION OF THE AVAILABLE WATER RESOURCES • THE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE• UNEVEN DISTRIBUTED WATER • USAGE OF WATER FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

The scarcity of water resources, inappropriate management and disparate interests – are all factors that make the distribution of water in Central Asia into a major source of potential tensions.

Usage of water

• In the absence of alternatives, the water-rich countries Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, situated on the upper reaches of the major rivers Syr Darya and Amu Darya, use water predominantly for hydropower production in winter.

• On the other hand, the downstream countries Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, mainly use water for irrigating crops in summer.

Map of the World showing water

scarcityCentral Asia is a

region with “Physical

water scarcity ”

International actors in Central

Asia• The Transboundary Water Management in Central Asia programme is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of theGerman Federal Foreign Office.

• In cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and representatives of all five Central Asian states, proposals for strengthening the institutional capacity of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS) have been elaborated. In a comprehensive project, EC IFAS and the five states as well as GIZ, UNECE and representatives of other international partners collectively devised a scheme to improve water management across the Aral Sea Basin – the Third Aral Sea Basin Programme – which has been approved by all five states.

Adaptation options in

Central Asia

The options explored can be summarized in three broad categories:• expanding the supply of water available in the future;• increasing the productivity of water; and• reducing future demand for water.• Climate change will put additional challenges on decision makers to

manage water resources in a beneficial way both to the environment and human life. Solutions are possible when decision makers will act adequately, resources are available and actions will be taken in common understanding of all countries.

ReferencesAsian Development Bank “Climate Change and Sustainable Water Management in Central Asia”, Retrieved from http://www.adb.org/publications/climate-change-and-sustainable-water-management-central-asiaBBC News. World Water Crisis . Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2000/world_water_crisis/default.stm

GIZ, A Source of Peace – Transboundary Water Management in Central Asiahttp://waterca.org/ Regional Research Network “Central Asian Water”, “Water in Central Asia”. Retrieved fromhttp://www.cawa-project.net/page/38 Burchett., Rettman., & Boning. (1986). Edwards aquifer. Retrieved from http://libweb.lib.utsa.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/19075288?accountid=7122Linscomb, Steve. (2011, Sept. 21). SAWS pouring millions into desalination plant. Retrieved from http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/saws-pouring-millions-into-desalination-plant/9...