Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Water Pollution
WATER POLLUTION
PART I
CURRENT STATE OF PROBLEM
I.
Introduction
Brief Description of Problem at the Regional and National Levels
II.
III.
IV.
Detailed Justification of Identified Problems
2.1
Current State
2.2
Analysis of Root Causes of Identified Problems
2.3
Analysis of Major Pollution Sources
2.3.1 Industrial Waste
2.3.2 Municipal Waste
2.3.3 Agricultural Runoff
2.4
Evaluation of Transboundary Aspects
2.4.1 Transboundary Water Objects
Risk Assessment
3.1
Health Risk
3.2
Irreversible Changes of the Environment
3.2.1
Loss of Habitats
3.2.2
Loss of Biodiversity
3.3
Social and Economic Risks
Existing Solutions to Resolve Problem
4.1
Legislation
4.2
Projects/programs/research
Attachments:
Maps
Information Sources
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Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
I.
Water Pollution
Introduction
Brief Description of Problem at the Regional and National levels
The major transboundary water objects in the countries of the Central Asian Region (CAR) are the
Syr-Daria, Amu-Daria, Chu, Talas, Murgab, Tedzhen, Atrek, Zeravshan and other rivers.
The main problem of the Aral Sea environmental crisis is the shortage of water resources and the
deteriorating quality of the water of transboundary rivers. This is due to irrigated agriculture and the
run-off of sewage and agricultural drainage waters. One of the main causes of this situation is the
fact that the river ecosystems of the Amu-Daria and Syr-Daria Rivers, and as a consequence, the
Aral Sea ecosystem, lack the status of full participants of the water/economic balance in the
Central Asian Region. Experience from the rehabilitation of ecosystems shows that the needs of
natural objects, such as ecological runoff, should be seen as primary needs in the maintenance of
the ecosystem. Currently in the CARs, minimally needed water consumption rates or sanitary
draw-downs below large hydraulic structures and reservoirs are determined as priority needs.
Making river ecosystems full participants of the water economy balance must be an integral part of
both national and regional environmental action plans.
II.
2.1
Detailed Justification of Identified Problems
Current State
This section on the current state and detailed justification of the identified problems contains
characteristics of the Amu-Daria and Syr-Daria Rivers taking into account that these watercourses
deal with the strategic interests of all CAR countries. Further analysis will be given of the
transboundary rivers having transit runoffs between two or three CAR states.
The basic sources of surface runoff of the CARs are the Amu-Daria and Syr-Daria Rivers, whose
total average runoff averaged over many years is 115,6 km3, with 78,46 km3in the Amu-Daria basin
and 37,14 к km3 in the Syr-Daria basin.
Distribution of the average long-term runoff in the CAR republics is given below.
Country
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan (with Iran)
Uzbekistan
Afghanistan
Total
Amu-Daria basin
1,9
62,9
2,78
4,7
6,18
78,46
Syr-Daria basin
4,5
27,4
1,1
4,14
37,14
41
Aral Sea basin Total
km3
%
4,5
3,9
29,3
25,3
64
55,4
2,78
2,4
8,84
7,6
6,18
5,4
115,6
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Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Water Pollution
Central Asia possesses significant resources of underground waters used for water supply and
irrigation.
Country
Underground waters
Regional
resources,
million m3
1845,7
922,3
6654
3358
19679
32459
Estimation year
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Total
1990
1990
1994
1994
1990
Approved operational
reserves, million m3
1224,2
688,95
2196
1222
6781
12112,15
Irrigated agriculture accounts for the bulk of water used in the CAR countries (91,6 % of total water
consumption). It is followed by domestic, potable, and municipal water supply (3,6 %), agricultural
water supply (1.56 %) and industrial water supply (1,92 %).
Below are the volumetric indicators of actual water use in the CAR countries.
Million m3
Country
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Total for CAR
Total amount
used
10918
5105
12031
23821
58581
110456
including
that used for irrigation
of which CDW is
9713
126
4940
68
10338
364
23291
48
53416
4500
101698
5158
Due to natural conditions, there is poor natural drainage (outflow of sub-soil waters) on individual
agricultural plots Therefore, a large network of drainage systems have been constructed for the
export of waste waters from the irrigated territories and industrial, municipal, agricultural and other
enterprises. The average long-term volume of drainage waters is in the range of 36-38 km3.
The qualitative composition of the region’s water resources is determined in the zone of runoff
formation (Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic ) under the influence of natural factors, and in the runoff
transit and dispersion zone (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan) under the influence of
anthropogenic factors. The water quality in the rivers in the outlet from the formation zone, on the
whole, complies with the normative requirements for various kinds of water use. Further
deterioration of the qualitative state of the water is connected with waste, sewage collector and
drainage waters (CDWs) immediately discharged into rivers with practically no treatment.
Industrial, municipal and household sewage, as well as CDWs discharged into the transboundary
rivers, contain, as a rule, between 8 and 15 pollutants whose concentration is on average 2-10
times greater than the maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) for household and fishing
industry water use. The major polluting components of the transboundary rivers are general
mineralization, sulfates, general hardness, phenols, pesticides, petroleum products (in particular
cases), the nitric group, copper, and zinc. The quality of the region’s underground waters is
characterized by mineralization in the range 1-3 gr./l. The entire region demonstrates the tendency
toward deterioration of groundwater.
Drainage waters are the main source of
sodium ions prevail in CDWs. They also
has been established that on average up
pesticides from the amount used end
pollution of the region’s water. Sulfates, chlorides, and
contain pesticides, nitric compounds, and phosphate. It
to 25 % of nitrogen, 5 % of phosphate and up to 4 % of
up in drainage collectors from irrigated fields. Their
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Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Water Pollution
concentration in the drainage collector runoff exceeds the MPC 5-10 times and more. The content
of mineralization and major ions increases from mountainous regions to the plains.
The water management system that has formed in Central Asia used to provide manageability of
the region’s water resources. The currently existing agreements are framework documents – they
establish the major directions of cooperation without forming the mechanism of their
implementation, specific indicators, and water protection. In this connection, development of water
relations between the CAR countries in the field of protection and rational use of water resources
are characterized as insufficiently effective.
The contradictions of national interests among the CAR countries are a major factor complicating
the creation of a regional legal foundation for water and environmental relations.
Because of the complexity of the situation, the major environmental problems of the region
connected with the use of transboundary water objects are the following:
 general shortage of water resources;
 pollution of water resources;
 the problem of water resources management at the regional level.
The technical state of the hydrologic and hydrochemical observation network on the transboundary
rivers has considerably deteriorated in recent years, and the progression of its degradation is
beginning to acquire an irreversible character.
In connection with the existing situation, the problem of the rehabilitation of the number and
technical capability of observation stations is becoming vitally important. Within the context of this
problem, special attention should be given to building and equipping the stations with modern
technology. Communications facilities of stationary monitoring posts in the border river stations of
the transboundary rivers should be provided. Another problem that has not yet been solved is
accounting for the drainage waters.
2.2
Analysis of Root Causes of Identified Problems
The main environmental problems are connected with: solving hydro-economic problems,
combating qualitative “depletion” of water resources; and increasing the comprehensive character
of the use of land and water resources.
a. The general shortage of water resources is caused by:
1) irregularity of the formation, and uneven distribution of water resources;
2) out-dated standards used in allocation of surface waters among the CAR countries;
3) irrational use of water resources at the national level;
4) formation of man-made reservoirs using collector and drainage waters;
5) absence of water-saving techniques in various branches of national economies; and
6) conflicting interests between irrigation needs and hydro-electrical engineering;
b. Deterioration of water quality is connected with:
1) inefficient work of wastewater treatment plants;
2) unsatisfactory state of tailing dumps and mining enterprises;
3) unsatisfactory state of the sanitary protection zones of water-supply sources;
4) absence of legislatively established water-protection zones and belts, which entails:
 direct pollution of watercourses;
 use of water-protection zones for irrigation of crops;
 disorganization of fauna’s habitats;
 disorganization of the plant communities of floodplain meadows;
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Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Water Pollution
5) insufficient application of modern methods of determination of the mode of crop
irrigation, which, in turn, causes:
 unproductive losses and over-expenditure of water;
 raising of the level of subsoil (salt) water;
 waterlogging and salinization of lands;
 water erosion of soils;
 unreasonable water volumes for flushing the soil.
6) insufficiency and inefficiency of communal drainage systems, which entails:
 inefficient use of water;
 raising of the water table;
 groundwater pollution
 secondary pollution and salinization of water and soil;
 absence of the methods of return water treatment.
7) imperfect water conservation system:
 unproductive water losses from seepage and evaporation during transportation
through main, inter- and intra-enterprise canals;
 raising of the water table
 difficulty in accounting for water use
8) inefficient use of biological methods of plant protection and scientifically
substantiated norms of the application of pesticides and mineral fertilizers:
 pollution of surface and sub-surface waters;
 pollution of groundwater;
 pollution of the atmosphere;
 pollution of soil;
 poisoning of the population;
 poisoning of soil and water biota.
c. The major causes that have exacerbated the problem of water resource management
at the regional level are the following:
1) absence of a legislative framework uniform for the CAR countries;
2) absence of mechanisms of practical implementation of the existing inter-State
agreements;
3) insufficient planning and management of water resources;
4) treating the environmental problems of watercourses and reservoirs as a low-order
priority; and
5) complexity of the application of the Convention on International Rivers and Lakes
(Helsinki-92, signed only by the Republic of Kazakhstan).
2.3
Analysis of Major Pollution Sources
2.3.1 Industrial Waste
In all CAR countries, the main industrial pollutants at the national level are the following:
 heavy metals in discharge from the mining, metal-working, etc. industries (toxins);
 other organic matter from specific industries (toxic and non-toxic), such as nitrogen, cyanides,
etc.;
 non-toxic organic substances (BOD, COD), for example discharge from the food industry and
other light industries;
 toxic organic components from the discharge from various types of industrial plants, including
the chemical industry, such as petroleum components, solvents, etc.
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Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Water Pollution
The information below dealing with the regional level does not contain an analysis of surface water
pollution with respect to those industrial enterprises in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic that do not
produce discharges into the transboundary watercourses. The analysis of industrial sources of
pollution in Table 1 is based on the materials from Tajikistan. (Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan will
present their materials later.)
One large polluter of water resources with nitrogen-containing components in the Vakhsh River
basin is the Vakhsh nitric fertilizers plant.
The inspection analyses of underground waters taken from some observation and pressure
observation wells on the site of the production area of the Tajik aluminum plant have shown
fluorine concentration of 1,5-2,5 mg/l (the MPC being 1,5 mg/l), which testifies to leakages from the
storage and water-rotating units. Fluorine has not been found in the analyses of samples taken
from other observation wells both on the territory of the plant and outside its limits.
The industry of the CAR countries is going through a heavy crisis accompanied by a sharp fall of
production, radical structural transformations, privatization of capital assets, and degradation of the
sources of raw materials, which results in a reduction of polluting discharges containing
wastewaters.
2.3.2 Municipal Waste
Municipal and household sewage (as well as a portion of industrial waste-waters) of cities and
urban-type settlements in the CAR is treated at municipal (urban and settlement) sewage
treatment works (STW). The data on municipal sources of pollution of transboundary water objects
are given in Table 2.
As shown in the analysis, the municipal sources of pollution produce a local impact on
transboundary watercourses.
2.3.3 Agricultural Runoff
In recent years there has been a consistent growing trend of unproductive losses of water in the
irrigation sector. This is caused by the unsatisfactory technical state of irrigation systems, wear of
the equipment, and application of imperfect watering methods. The existing irrigation networks are
at an extremely low operational level, and more than 70% of them require urgent reconstruction
and equipment upgrades. A consequence of this situation is a significant loss of clean water being
delivered to consumers (losses total more than 1800 million m3/year or 20-26 % of total water
draw-off from natural sources annually). Discharges and losses in the agricultural sector fall under
the category of “unorganized”, and their monitoring is not carried out.
Annual application of mineral fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, defoliants, and veterinary drugs has
decreased by more than ten times since 1990.
Nevertheless, "unorganized" agricultural discharges and runoff from the fields are sources of
pollution of water objects.
2.4
Evaluation of Transboundray Aspects
The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent formation of five independent
states in Central Asia has resulted in a change of the legal definition of the main watercourses in
the region. The main rivers of the region (Syr-Daria, Amu-Daria, Zaravshan, Chu, Talas) turned
from internal into international watercourses, which necessitated the creation of a new legal regime
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Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Water Pollution
applied to watercourses of this sort. The data on the qualitative state of the transboundary rivers
are given in Table 3. (Except for the Republic of Turkmenistan.)
An analysis of Table 3 shows that, according to the data of national monitoring services, water
quality in the transboundary watercourses (with respect to the analysed components) is within the
MPC limits. The absence of a uniform system of water quality monitoring does not allow for a
reliable estimation of the existing state of pollution of the transboundary watercourses.
For the CAR countries, the polluting components characteristic of the transboundary rivers are total
mineralization, sulfates, total hardness, phenols, pesticides, and sometimes petroleum products,
the nitric group, copper and zinc.
Drainage waters, which are the main source of the region’s water pollution, are not taken into
account, neither in terms of volume nor quality. However, sulfates, chlorides, and sodium ions
prevail in CDWs. They also contain pesticides, as well as nitrogen and phosphate compounds. It
has been established that, on average, up to 25 % of nitrogen, 5 % of phosphate and up to 4 % of
pesticides (from the amount applied) is drained into drainage collectors from irrigated fields. Their
concentration in the collector run-off exceeds the MPC by 5-10 times and more. The concentration
of minerals and main ions increases from mountainous regions to the plains. The aforementioned
information is based on calculations rather than factual data.
As noted earlier, an objective evaluation of transboundary pollution needs:
reassessment of the existing sites of hydrological and hydrochemical control stations in order
to move them to the state borders of the CAR countries, and possible organization of a joint
station for control of hydrological and hydrochemical parameters of transit runoffs;
coordination of the methods of measurement and analysis of hydrological and hydrochemical
parameters for achieving comparable results.
2.4.1 Transboundary Water Objects
Transboundary water objects on the territory of Tajikistan are the Syr-Daria, Isfara, Pyanzh and
Zaravshan Rivers. In Uzbekistan, transboundary water objects are the main rivers – SurkhanDaria, Zaravshan, Syr-Daria and Amu-Daria. In Kazakhstan, transboundary water objects are the
Syr-Daria. Chu, Talas, Ili, Irtysh, Tobol, Ishym and Ural Rivers. In Kyrgyz Republic, transboundary
watercourses are the Naryn, Chu, Kara-Daria and Talas Rivers. Apart from the listed main
transboundary water objects there are plenty of small rivers, which are transboundary for the
territories of two contiguous states.
III.
3.1
Risk Assessment
Health Risk
It is not possible to carry out a complete assessment of health risks only on the basis of the
materials presented by the national experts. According to the WHO data, the water factor is the
cause of 80 % of diseases. As a matter of fact, such diseases as typhoid, acute intestinal infection
(AII) (diarrhea), dysentery, diphtheria, and viral hepatitis are connected with the use of polluted
water. In addition, waterlogged areas are habitats of malaria carriers. The table below contains
data on infectious diseases in Tajikistan for the period of 1998- 2000.
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Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Water Pollution
Table: Infectious Diseases in the Republic of Tajikistan
Years
Typhoid
1998
1999
2000
171,4
119,7
71,3
AII
(diarrhea
)
998,9
1212,9
1376,9
Bacterial
dysentery
Malaria
63,0
60,4
42,7
318,6
220,2
308,0
Per 100,000 population
Diphtheria
Viral
hepatitis
2,7
0,5
0,2
121,8
164,2
159,3
For the entire Central Asian Region, the problem of water and potable water supply has long been
a key factor among other issues of environmental hygiene and sanitation, especially in the lower
parts of the Amu-Daria and Syr-Daria rivers.
The issue of the provision of potable water for the population living in the basin of the Aral – SyrDaria region is very critical, because the bulk of the potable water is groundwater replenished by
the surface runoff from a natural hydraulic connection. Therefore, the diseases observed among
the region’s population, such as typhoid, acute intestinal infections, dysentery, diphtheria, and viral
hepatitis are, first of all, connected with the use of poor-quality potable water. For example,
according to the data of the Public Health Centre of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 90% of
breastfeeding mothers in the Aral region in have pesticides in their milk.
Assessments of health risks were carried out in Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic within the
framework of the preparation of the National Environmental Hygiene Action Plans. At present,
Medecines sans Frontieres (MSF) is carrying out operational research in the Republic of
Uzbekistan in the framework of their Aral Region Program. MSF has been carrying out research of
the state of the environment and the health of the people living in the Aral region since 1998. The
research under the project “Water Quality, Hypertension and Urolithiasis” has not been completed
yet and the results have not been published
3.2
Irreversible Changes of the Environment
3.2.1 Loss of habitats
The consequences of anthropogenic environmental impact, in particular on water resources, are:
- destruction of habitats of many wild animals, birds, fishes;
- reduction of the natural habitat of a number of species;
- gradual reduction and ousting of some species from their usual habitats;
- wetlands in the Chu valley have practically disappeared.
- degraded ecosystems of the lower parts of rivers;
3.2.2 Loss of Biodiversity
The CAR countries have developed national action plans and programs on their implementation for
the preservation of biodiversity at the regional level, for example, a project of preservation of
biodiversity of the Western Tien Shan.
3.2.3 Social and Economic Risks
The issue of social, environmental, and economic assessment of the damage from pollution and
depletion of water resources is practically not covered in scientific and methodological literature. A
comprehensive economic assessment of the consequences of irrational use and pollution of
underground waters must be a subject of separate research to be carried out as soon as possible.
Since the materials on the issue presented by national experts are not sufficient and use different
indicators, their objective generalization is not possible.
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Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
IV.
4.1
Water Pollution
Existing Solutions to Resolve Problem
Legislation
Legislation dealing with the management and protection of water resources is laid down in major
environmental acts:
-
Law “On Protection of the Environment” (Kyrgyz Republic, 1999; Kazakhstan, 1997;
Uzbekistan, 1992; Tajikistan, 1993).
The law on water (Kyrgyz Republic, 1994; Kazakhstan, 1992; Uzbekistan, 1993; Tajikistan,
2000).
The governmental decree on water-protection zones and belts of water objects (Kyrgyz
Republic, 1995; Kazakhstan, 1992; Uzbekistan, 1992; Tajikistan, 1994).
The governmental decree on the introduction of payment for discharges into the environment of
pollutants exceeding the norms, and sites of waste disposal (Kyrgyz Republic, 1992;
Kazakhstan, 1993; Uzbekistan, 1992; Tajikistan, 1993).
Despite the numerous statutory and normative acts in the post-Soviet CAR republics (by the way
Turkmenistan has not presented data on this issue), the current situation in the ecosystems of the
region clearly illustrates the insignificance of these documents for the protection and rational use of
water resources of the transboundary rivers. Therefore, for the present it would be advisable:
- to develop uniform norms and rules for the control of the volume and quality of the transit runoff
in the transboundary areas;
- to equip the transboundary areas with hydrological and hydrochemical control stations for joint
usage (or if this is not possible, it is suggested to move national hydrological and
hydrochemical control stations closer to the State borders);
- to jointly develop the scientific foundations of the environmental runoff of the transboundary
rivers.
4.2
Projects/programs/research
Work is currently being carried out in the city of Dushanbe on the reconstruction of the watersupply system. The project is funded by a World Bank credit.
Since May 1999, the regional project “Management of Water Resources and the Environment in
the Aral Sea Basin” under the GEF program has been operational in the CAR states.
The Aral Sea Basin Project is aimed at the efficient utilization of water resources. This includes the
development and application of national and regional strategies of rational water resource use for
sustainable development of the Central Asian countries; the solution of the Aral Sea crisis problem;
and the monitoring of water resources of the Amu-Daria and Syr-Daria basins.
At present, the government of Uzbekistan is considering a project for the construction of a main
sewage collector on the right bank of the Amu-Daria with the purpose of collecting all drainage
waters and transporting them into the Aral Sea. Taking into account the potential negative
consequences of this project for the environments of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the Aral Sea,
the Drainage Project has been delayed pending a more detailed evaluation of all possible
alternatives to the “Main Sewer” project. Possible alternatives include solving the problems of
improved water quality of the Amu-Daria River, in case of a delay of building or complete
cancellation of the “Main Sewer” project.
All CAR countries are working under the GEF project “Management of Water Resources and the
Environment”. The SPEKA project “Rational and Efficient Use of Water and Power Resources in
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Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Water Pollution
the CARs” also involves all CAR countries except the Republic of Uzbekistan. All CAR states are
involved in the work conducted by the ICWC and IFAS.
Since 2001, Kazakhstan has been participating in the SYNAS Project “Regulating the Bed of the
Syr-Daria River and the Northern Part of the Aral Sea”.
The participation of the Central Asian countries in these projects and in other planned projects
should promote the improvement of the environmental situation of the transboundary rivers.
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Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
TABLE 1. Industrial water pollution sources
Country
Location
Production type
UZBEKISTAN
UZBEKISTAN
Syr-Daria Obl., SyrDaria town
Surkhan-Daria Obl.,
Termez
Water Pollution
Discharge
location
Major types of
discharges
Pollutant
Availability /
treatment type
Concentration
mg/l
1998
1999
7,4
9,9 biological
Sewage works,
Shuruzyak
BOD5
refrigerating shop sewer, Syr-Daria
River
Suspended
matter
Total nitrogen
Sewage works,
meat-packing
plant
0
60,3
45
11
2,9
2,5
0
Total phosphorus --
--
--
Petroleum
products
Heavy metals
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
--
Radioactive
substances
Amy-Daria River BOD5
Suspended
matter
Total nitrogen
27
43 biological
30,6
47
17 biological
40,6
0,44
2,5
25
Total phosphorus --
--
--
Petroleum
products
Heavy metals
--
--
--
--
--
--
Radioactive substances
50
Treatment
efficiency
1999
Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
UZBEKISTAN
UZBEKISTAN
Fergana Obl.,
Fergana town
Karakalpakistan,
Nukus town
Water Pollution
“Azot” Production ЮФК
Association
Winery
Old canal,
Kegeili sewer
BOD5
1,4
2,8 biological
6,6
Suspended
matter
Total nitrogen
Total phosphorus
50
25
3,8
5,6
1,8
6,6
2,5
0
5
Petroleum
0,9
products
Heavy metals
0,11
(Fe)
Radioactive substances
0,15
25
0,2
66
BOD5
7,8
7,1 biological
0
Suspended
matter
Total nitrogen
73
83
0
8,9
8,1
0
1,8
1,7 headers
Total phosphorus
Petroleum
products
Heavy metals (Fe)
Radioactive substances
TAJIKISTAN
Yavan town
Yavan electrochemical plant
Nainsu River,
further Vakhsh
River
BOD5
Suspended
matter
Total nitrogen
Total phosphorus
14,5
15,8
0,17
0,06
0,12
0,05
Mineralization
1620
1242
492
494
Chlorides
51
not in
operation
Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
TAJIKISTAN
Sarband town
Vakhsh nitrogen
fertilizers plant
Water Pollution
Vakhsh River
BOD5
2,5
2 Part of effluents insufficient
into KurganTyube municipal
sewage works,
part into Vakhsh
w/out treatment
32,6
0
Suspended
matter
Total nitrogen
30,6
35
37
Total phosphorus
0,38
0,05
0
Petroleum
products
Heavy metals (Fe)
Radioactive substances
KYRGYZ
REPUBLIC
Kurpsai Hydro
Naryn River
BOD5
7,8
Suspended matter
Total nitrogen
Total phosphorus
Petroleum
products
Heavy metals (Fe)
Radioactive substances
52
8
73
8,9
0
0
Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Water Pollution
Table 3 Transboundary Water Objects
Object
Countries
Concentration of pollutants
Suspended
Total
Total
Petroleum
Heavy
Radioactive
matter
nitrogen phosphorus products
metals
substances
1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999 1998 1999
2.2
2
100
120 0.65 0.56
0.07
0.08
Fe
total
BOD5
Syr-Daria Riv.
Kyrgyz Republic ,
Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan,
Kazakhstan
Zeravshan Riv.
Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan,
Pyanzh Riv.
Tajikistan,
Afghanistan,
Uzbekistan
Isfara Riv.
Kyrgyz Republic ,
Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan
Chu Riv., Vasilyevka Uzbekistan,
village
Kazakhstan
Chu Riv., Blagove- Kyrgyz Republic ,
shchenskoye vil.
Kazakhstan
Naryn Riv. (TashKyrgyz Republic ,
Kumyr town)
Uzbekistan
Kara-Daria Riv.
Kyrgyz Republic ,
Uzbekistan
Ak-Buura Riv.
Kyrgyz Republic ,
Uzbekistan
Amu-Daria Riv.,
Uzbekistan,
Termez town
Afghanistan,
Turkmenistan
Amu-Daria Riv.,
Uzbekistan,
Tyuyaumuyun gorge Turkmenistan
1.6
1.8
362
408
2.4
2.8
286
324
2.3
2.5
135
1.43
0.22
0.26
0.05
0.05
0.3
0.38
165
1.8
2.3
0.03
0.02
0.1
0.08
1.48 50.26 196.8
2.5
2.79
0.26
0.32
3.72
0.04
0.06
6.7
88
5.5
97
1.43
93
0.02
0.05
0.83
0,7
0,8
751
235 0,022 0,035
0,03
0,03
0,01
0,02
0,5
0,3
3,5
3,8
0,8
0,8
18,1
9,7 0,038 0,025
0,06
0,03
0,01
0,01
0
1,0
3,0
4,4
53
Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Zeravshan Riv.,
lower water of
Pervomayskaya
dam
Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan
Naryn Riv., estuary
Water Pollution
0,5
1,04
630
161 0,051 0,041
0,02
0,02
0,01
0,01
0,1
0,2
4,5
3,4
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz
Republic
2,78
2,02
28,8
30,4 0,142 0,134
0,06
0,03
0,03
0,05
2,7
0,7
0,8
1,0
Syr-Daria Riv., 1 km. Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz
above discharge of Republic
sewage works
0,73
0,72
119
238 0,202
0,02
0,01
0,09
0,08
1,0
0,8
1,0
1,4
0,16
Isfairamsai Riv.,
Kuvasai town
Uzbekistan., Kyrgyz 2,2
Republic
0,88
40,2
53,7
0,115 0,186 0,02
0,01
Syr-Daria Riv., 0.25
km. above Bekebad
town
Syr-Daria Riv.,
Chinaz town
Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan
1,42
2,26
27,4
18,9
0,058 0,077 0,02
0,02
Uzbekistan,
Kazakhstan
0,67
1,08
31,9
32,7
0,066 0,05
0,02
54
0,02
0,04
0,01
0,05
0,7
0,4
0,7
1,0
0 0,01
1,5
0,7
5,3
3,6
0,01
0,9
1,7
5,1
3,6
Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Water Pollution
Table 5. Main Sources of Water Pollution
Country
Name
Type
Risk Evaluation
Health
Kyrgyz
Republic
Kyrgyz
Republic
Kyrgyz
Republic
Chu Riv., Tokmok town
Kyrgyz
Republic
Ecology Econom
y
Invest- Transboun- Capital
ment dary aspects investtype
ments
Importance
Household runoff, agricultural
irrigation runoff
Household runoff
3
3
3
3
Kazakhstan
4
3
3
3
Uzbekistan
Household runoff, agricultural
irrigation runoff
3
3
3
3
Uzbekistan
Ak-Buura Riv., Osh town
Household runoff, agricultural
irrigation runoff
4
4
4
4
Uzbekistan
Kyrgyz
Republic
Ak-Buura Riv.,lower parts
Household runoff, agricultural
irrigation runoff, mining sector
4
4
4
4
Uzbekistan
Kyrgyz
Republic
Kugart Riv., Kok-Zhangak
town
Household runoff, agricultural
irrigation runoff
4
3
4
4
Uzbekistan
Kazakhstan
Chu Riv.,
BlagoveshchenskoyeFurmanovka vil.
Agricultural irrigation runoff
4
4
4
4
Kyrgyz
Republic
Kazakhstan
Syr-Daria Riv., Kok-Bulak- Agricultural irrigation runoff
Kaalinsk vil.
Syr-Daria Riv., Khudzhand Agricultural irrigation runoff,
town
household runoff
5
4
4
4
Uzbekistan
3
3
3
3
Kyrgyz Republic ,
Uzbekistan
Tajikistan
Vakhsh Riv., further AmuDaria Riv.
Agricultural irrigation runoff,
household runoff, industrial
runoff
4
4
4
4
Uzbekistan
Tajikistan
Isfara Riv., Isfara town
Agricultural irrigation runoff,
household runoff
3
3
3
3
Kyrgyz
Republic
Tajikistan
Naryn Riv., Tash-Kumyr
town
Kara-Daria Riv., Suzak vil.
55
Regional Environmental Action Plan for Central Asia
Water Pollution
Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan
Zarashan Riv., Samarkand Tajik mining sector, towns of
town, Navoi town
Samarkand and Navoi,
collector and drainage runoff
4
4
4
4
Pollution with nitric group,
metals, salinization of
waters
Uzbekistan
Kashka-Daria Riv.
Intake of river water and
discharge of CDW
3
4
4
4
Необходимость
переброски стока AmuDaria and Zaravshan rivers
Turkmenistan, Lower parts of Amu-Daria
Uzbekistan
Riv.
Drawoff of river water and
discharge of CDW
5
5
5
5
Pollution with pesticides
and salinization of waters
Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan
Syr-Daria Riv., above
Bekabad town
Discharge of CDW and local
pollution with industrial runoff
3
3
3
3
Pollution with nitric group,
petroleum products, copper
Kyrgyz
Republic ,
Uzbekistan
Mailisuu Riv.
Municipal runoff, wastes from
Kyrgyz mines
4
3
3
3
Pollution with petroleum
products, nitrites, copper,
and possibly radioactive
substances
Kyrgyz
Republic ,
Uzbekistan
Kyrgyz
Republic ,
Uzbekistan
Isfairamsai Riv.
Spontaneous discharges of
wastewaters and CDW
3
3
3
3
Оrganic pollution, copper,
antimony, mercury
Pollution of underground
Land irrigation and use of
potable water sources in
chemical fertilizers, mining
the formation zone on the sector
territory of Kyrgyz Republic
4
3
3
3
Increase in mineralization,
hardness, nitric group,
pesticides, metals
Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan
Pollution of underground
potable water sources in
the formation zone on the
territory of Tajikistan
Mining sector
5
4
4
4
Metals, specific ingredients
Uzbekistan
Local pollution of
underground waters in
industrial and intensive
irrigation areas
Taskent Obl., FerganaMargelan industrial zone,
Navoi Obl.
4
3
4
4
Wide range of quality
indicators of groundwaters
56