Kyrgyzstan plans water resource improvement program

The Kyrgyz government intends to approve a state program aimed at improving water resource management from 2026 to 2035. The Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry has prepared the draft resolution, which is now open for public discussion.

A key focus of the program is the dilapidated state of irrigation infrastructure. A significant portion of the canals and facilities were built between 35 and 80 years ago and are now physically obsolete. This aging infrastructure leads to substantial water losses during transport, as most canals are earthen. The government estimates a total investment need of 216.3 billion soms.

Further challenges include slow progress in constructing and modernizing irrigation infrastructure, limited adoption of advanced technologies, water-saving solutions, and digitalization. The report notes that no significant reservoirs have been built in Kyrgyzstan over the past 35 years, resulting in a large portion of winter river flow being unused despite a deficit of irrigation water during the growing season.

The existing water resource management system, largely inherited from the Soviet era, is considered outdated and requires institutional reform. In the realm of drinking water supply and sanitation, there is a high degree of physical and moral wear on water and sewage networks. According to the Department of Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Development, residents in 273 villages lack access to centralized water supply, and most settlements are not equipped with centralized sewage and wastewater treatment systems, often relying on cesspools.

Additionally, the law "On Drinking Water" is not fully compliant with current legislation, and comprehensive regulation for wastewater management is absent. Climate risks, such as droughts, floods, and the degradation of water sources, are also identified as significant problems.