WATER BALANCE IN UZBEKISTAN DURING PERIODS OF WATER SCARCITY
Keywords:
The issue of water resource utilization is increasingly pressing in the context of Central Asia. The rapid increase in temperature and the rising demand for water in various sectors of the economy are leading to a range of challenges in the utilization of water resources.Abstract
The article delineates the primary beneficiaries of water resources in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The analysis of water resource utilization revealed that over the past decade, there has been a decrease in total water withdrawal per hectare in the republic. Specifically, the withdrawal has decreased from 13,000 m3/ha to 12.2 thousand m3/ha. During the vegetation period, the withdrawal has decreased from 10.7-11 thousand m3/ha to 8.8-9.6 thousand m3/ha. In the non-growing period, the withdrawal has, on average, fluctuated between 2.4-2.7 thousand m3/ha. Simultaneously, it was observed that the yearly restriction on water usage for municipal and domestic purposes in the economy is 2.65 billion m3, constituting 4.35% of the overall water consumption in the country. The centralized water supply to the urban population in the republic is, on average, 85.9%, while the rural population has a centralized water supply of 61.9%. The average daily water use per person is 137 liters for urban areas and 75 liters for rural areas. Simultaneously, the water delivery network in the republic has significant losses, averaging around 24.9%, due to its low technical condition and underutilized capacity. The yearly water intake limit for fisheries with artificial ponds is 0.6 billion cubic meters, with around 30-32% being fresh water. The primary source of water consumption for the fishery industry is derived from natural water bodies, such the Arnasay depression, Priaralie zone, and other similar areas. In order to achieve sustainable development in the fisheries sector and safeguard the environment, it is necessary to yearly supply approximately 1.5 billion cubic meters and 3 billion cubic meters of fresh water to the Arnasay depression and the Priaralie zone, respectively. The analysis of water balance indicates that even if the current techniques, technologies, and management of water resources in various sectors of the country's economy are maintained, there will still be a deficit of water resources. If water resources are limited to 100%, the deficit will be up to 10 km3/year. However, if the provision is reduced to 80%, the deficit will increase to 14 km3/year.The essay concludes that the remedy for the issue of water resource scarcity lies in water conservation, not only in irrigated agriculture, but also throughout other sectors of the nation's economy. As an economic mechanism, a phased shift is suggested, where payment for water delivery services would be accompanied by heightened penalties for those who violate water usage and consumption regulations
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