Potable Water

Water sector like other fields of economy is facing the problems in the transition period of economy in the new independent Republic of Kazakhstan. During the Soviet period the people used potable water free. At the present time one of the problems needed to be solved is to convince people on necessity of payment for water. But first, safe & quality potable water should be supplied to the people. As we are describing potable water situation in the Kyzylorda oblast, and especially the Aral Sea region situation it should be mentioned that the Kyzylorda oblast has specific geological & physical characteristics of underground water tables. Underground water tables are high saline. The main sources of potable water for the people of the Kyzylorda oblast including the Aral Sea region are the following:

• Syr-Daria River
• underground water
• Aral-Sorbulak water pipeline

In order to provide to the population of the Aral Sea Region safe water there was constructed the Aral- Sorbulak water pipeline (ASWP) during the soviet period. The pipeline is being connected with the underground water deposit Talagai located in the neighbor Aktube oblast. Potential branches of the pipeline providing water to the remote villages in the both rayon's were only planned but not constructed. Due to the reason of high salinity of underground water during the soviet period the majority of the remote villages was drilled boreholes and installed desalination equipment for each village. The post-soviet sever economical period had brought to the population of the Aral Sea Region problems with potable water:

• Water in Syr-Daria river is contaminated (pesticides and etc.)
• Desalination equipment installed during the Soviet period are broken and out of work. To have new ones is complicated. There are no funds.
• Due to the Aral Sea crisis the underground water became more saline.
• Aral – Sorbulak water pipeline has just recently started supply both settlements: Aralsk & Kazalinsk towns (37%of all population of the Aral Sea region). Long period the pipeline was out of work due to many leaks.
• Majority of population in the remote villages in the Aral Sea Region (63 villages with the population of 65 000 ) is using underground water through wells and boreholes. Wells (not everywhere) have fresh water. This source is not reliable, as underground water mirror is moving. As for boreholes, water taken through them are salty.

There are two main priorities for future sustainable development of the Aral Sea region.The first priority is related to the Water sector: safe & quality potable water supply. In this aspect there are two options: the first one is emergency assistance actions in this sector (short-term goal); the second one is Aral-Sorbulak water pipeline (ASWP) re-construction with its branches reaching each main villages (long-term goal aimed on sustainability). The second priority is dike Kokaral construction in order to preserve the North part of the Aral Sea.

Quality of potable water became worse and deteriorated local people health.

For activating local community involvement into the social-economical life of villages in the Aral Sea region the ‘Water" NGOs were established and registered as a legal bodies (List of NGOs is below). Much preparatory work was done. There were many meetings with habitants of the 13 biggest villages with the majority of population of the Aral Sea region and governmental officials. The habitants at the meetings stressed that they were not being asked for food or clothes but for safe water, which they need like air for breathing. Other remote villages looking at the "water" NGOs are following their example, and started preparing documents for being registered as the same "water" NGOs . New NGOs and their Presidents actively being involved into assessment on prioritized actions for improvement of potable water supply in their villages. NGOs are taking responsibility for potable water infrastructure & supply in their villages, for wells & boreholes’ sanitation & hygiene conditions. NGOs are doing actions like new wells constructions. But such kind of action can be considered as a solution on safe drinking water supply for few villages. Majority of the remote village’s needs to be provided urgently desalination equipment for boreholes located inside the villages. Desalination equipment purchase needs financial support. People of Aral hope that help will come to potable water sector in the region from international donors’ family or Government. "Water" NGOs need financial support not only grant assistance but credit support. Such kind of financial support will help to the NGOs to be stronger and more active. The NGOs are taking participation in other fields of socio - economic  activity. The NGOs also have intention to be involved into an agricultural activity: stock-breeding, fishing, crops & melon production, etc. At the present time the NGOs are involving into the activity related to the potable water supply improvements. E.g. in Aralsk rayon the NGO "Bogen" re-constructed 2 water reservoirs in Karashalan village; the NGO "Barshakum" constructed the new well in Tokabai village; the fish co-operative "Tastubek" also constructed the new well in their settlement. In Kazalinsk rayon the NGOs "Maidakol", "Erdos", "Parasat" are dealing with water delivery activity (purchase of tractor, water tankers for water delivery purposes). These NGOs & co-operative were supported by the grant assistance of the Royal Netherlands Embassy. Besides, the International Fund for the Aral Sea (Kazakhstan branch) started constructing a desalination equipment in Orkendeu village in Kazalinsk rayon.  

List of NGOs – Water Users’ Associations operating in the Aral Sea Region (data of December, 1999)

At the present time (data of December, 1999) there are more  NGOs in addition to the existing "water" NGOs in the Aral Sea region already actively working in this area. They are dealing with environment improvement, women & children, disabled children etc. 

Aralsk rayon:

"Ana Umiti" (Mother’s hope); "Meirim Shuagu" (Kind Ray); "Meirim" (Kindness); "Urpak" (Generation); "Aral Tenizi" (Aral Sea); "Kok Zhiek" (Horizon); "Semser" (Sword); "Baikonyr" (Baikonur); "Shattyk" (Joy); "Sheber" (Master); "Uztaz Ulagaty" (Master); "Kalamger" (Writer)

"Ana men Bobek" (Mother & child); "Shapagat" (Ray); "Moldir Su" (Clean water); "Arman" (Dream); "Sulutam Zhastary" (Youth of Sulutam)

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