Clean water projects in Uzbekistan face major implementation failures

• In Jizzakh city, the metal covering of water towers in Ulugbek and Kaliya neighborhoods was made of poor materials and designed unsafely.
• In Gulzor (Chust, Namangan), shoddy sewer construction led to persistent bad odors and system malfunctions.
• In Kattakurgan (Samarkand), 20 km of sewer lines were built with significant delays and quality violations.

Construction works finished but still no water

Even where construction was completed, 15 neighborhoods had no consistent access to clean water or sewerage:

• In Zarafshon (Arnasoy, Jizzakh), although a new water facility and pipelines were installed for 7 apartment blocks (70 households), water is supplied only every three days for 30 minutes—and doesn’t reach the second floors.
• Limited access was also reported in three streets of Dehbaland (Nurata, Navoi) and in several neighborhoods of Mirzaabad (Syrdarya), where water is only available at certain times of day.

Poor oversight, weak monitoring

The agencies responsible for drinking water supply have failed to ensure proper implementation and oversight of the projects. When “Yuksalish” requested detailed, district-level progress reports based on the president’s decree, officials said they had not maintained such records and were managing projects under other programs.

Recommendations by “Yuksalish”

During interviews, residents expressed growing concern over the inconsistencies between paper and practice. Based on the findings, “Yuksalish” proposes the following:

1. Engineer Training: Train district-assigned engineers according to the KMK 2.04.02-19 “Water Supply. External Networks and Facilities” standards.
2. Inclusive Supervision: Ensure involvement of technical experts from “Uzsuvtaminot” and public representatives in the handover of water projects.
3. Transparent Reporting: Implement open reporting systems for responsible agencies to track water and sewer project implementation.
4. Better Planning Tools: Use software and monitoring systems that ensure all households are included in project designs and coverage.
5. Modern Technologies: Apply international best practices and modern technologies in new projects.

A human right, not a privilege

“Yuksalish” emphasizes that access to safe drinking water is a fundamental human right and a condition for a dignified life. The movement calls on government agencies and civil society to address the identified problems through genuine cooperation, objective oversight, and effective reform.