The World Bank: “More than 9 million people in Uzbekistan do not have access to water supply services”

In Uzbekistan, around 9,1 million people or 28% of the total population do not have access to water supply services, or have to rely on self-supply. These figures were announced during the meeting of representatives of the World Bank and the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services of Uzbekistan, the WB office reported.

The World Bank and the Ministry of Communal Services of Uzbekistan held a “round table” on the implementation of reforms in the municipal water supply and sanitation sector, aimed at improving the efficiency in the supply of these utility services in the country.

“In order to improve public utility services, the government is modernizing water supply and sewage systems throughout the country using budget funds and attracted foreign investments. More than 1,2 trillion sums (around $146 million) from the state budget was allocated for the implementation of these tasks in 2017-2018. In 2018, following the completion of construction works and the introduction of water supply facilities, more than 450,000 people are expected to have better access to safe drinking water,” said the Minister of Housing and Communal Services Muzaffar Saliyev.

During the meeting, it was noted that although water tariffs in Uzbekistan are rising, they still remain as one of the lowest in the world. The current rates of utility services cannot fully cover their costs of operating and maintaining municipal water supply and sewage systems, as well as accumulate necessary investment funds for improving these services.

Participants emphasized the need to change tariff policies to improve the financial sustainability of enterprise in the sector.

Currently, 17,3 million people (53% of the total number of all consumers) have access to water supply services. Meanwhile, about 6,4 million people (19%) get services from other providers, and some 9.1 million (28%) don’t have access to water supply services or rely on self-supply. In this regard, within the framework of the round table, the Swiss experience in providing municipal services in rural areas was considered, as well as the issues of development of a regulatory framework for controlling the activities of alternative water service providers.

The World Bank is implementing 18 projects in Uzbekistan amounting more than $3,3 billion in order to assist the government in implementing meaningful socia-economic reforms.