Water Consumption in Bishkek Increases by 25 Percent in Summer

As summer approaches, Bishkek faces a significant surge in water consumption, rising by an estimated 25 percent, according to Alibek Kanymet uulu, deputy director of Bishkekvodokanal. This seasonal increase, as reported by 24.kg (KG), is primarily driven by the population's use of water for irrigating green spaces and personal plots, alongside normal domestic needs. The data underscores a persistent issue of inefficient water management within the capital.

The city's water infrastructure relies heavily on the Alamdin and Ala-Archa underground water reservoirs. Kanymet uulu highlighted ongoing efforts to sustain these vital resources, including agreements with regional water management bodies to replenish water sources. Notably, the Orto-Alysh water intake, which supplies over 40 percent of the city's population, is a critical component of the system, emphasizing the scale of the challenge in ensuring consistent supply.

While the water supply system is reportedly operating normally, with routine maintenance and timely repairs of emergencies, the context of potential price increases looms. A previously reported proposal suggested a nearly 50 percent hike in water tariffs, with a basic rate of 15.73 soms per cubic meter and 6.8 soms for sewage, which has been coordinated with the antimonopoly regulation service.

From Bishkek's perspective, this annual increase in water demand is a recurring challenge that highlights the need for greater public awareness regarding water conservation. While international coverage might focus on infrastructure or potential tariff hikes, the local perspective emphasized by 24.kg (KG) centers on the behavioral aspect – the 'careless and irrational' use of a precious resource. Ensuring a stable water supply for Bishkek's growing population requires not only robust infrastructure but also a concerted effort towards promoting responsible water consumption habits among its citizens.

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The main consumer of drinking water is the population, which accounts for about 70 percent of the extracted resource. The increase in water consumption by the population in the spring-summer period is associated not only with the physiological needs of a person, but, above all, with a careless and irrational attitude towards drinking water and its use for watering green spaces and household plots.