Azerbaijan's Drinking Water: Clean Or Contaminated?

Azerbaijan's drinking water is a pressing issue. Despite recent progress in providing citizens with reliable access to gas and electricity, potable water remains a challenge. The country's water quality is poor, with a large percentage of the population lacking easy access to drinkable water. This has led to medical concerns, as poor water quality can facilitate the transmission of bacterial diseases and cause health complications from trace heavy metals. While the government has made efforts to improve the situation, such as increasing the volume of water supplied and providing access to treated water, the majority of residents in Baku still face problems with the water supply.

Water quality in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has made significant strides in providing its citizens with reliable access to gas and electricity. However, the country faces challenges in ensuring a consistent supply of potable water. Water quality in Azerbaijan is a pressing issue,section as a large percentage of its 8.2 million citizens lack easy access to drinkable water.

Factors Affecting Water Quality

Azerbaijan's progress in various sectors, including public programs and infrastructure development, has unfortunately come at the cost of environmental sustainability and water quality. Groundwater pollution from oil spillage, pipeline and storage tank leakage, and factory waste dumped into rivers have all contributed to the deterioration of water quality. Additionally, the salinity of the water table due to seawater intrusion and outdated equipment in water treatment plants further exacerbates the problem.

The Absheron Peninsula, home to 50% of Azerbaijan's population, is considered by many scientists to be the most ecologically devastated area globally due to severe air, water, and soil pollution. The consequences of decades of pollution are evident in the form of medical concerns, including the transmission of bacterial diseases like cholera and hepatitis, as well as health complications from trace heavy metals in the water, such as cancer.

##section Initiatives for Improvement

The country has not turned a blind eye to the water crisis and has demonstrated motivation to address it. The centralized water supply system in Baku, the capital, now covers 2.366 million people, an increase from 1.56 million just a decade ago. Additionally, the volume of water supplied to Baku and the Absheron Peninsula has increased by 23% over the last ten years.

Azerbaijan's government has also implemented projects that have provided 600,000 more people with uninterrupted water supply. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has taken initiatives like installing modular sewage treatment plants in riverside villages, benefiting over 200 villages.

Current Water Supply Situation

Despite these improvements, challenges remain. Baku's water supply remainssection an issue, with residents divided into three categories: those with constant access to piped water, those with private access for limited hours, and those without any connection to the water supply. The water supplied to Baku comes from the Oguz-Qabala-Baku water pipeline, the Shollar Canal, the Jeyranbatan reservoir, and the Kura River. However, it is still not enough to provide a 24-hour supply to the entire city, as promised by the authorities.

The situation is even more dire in suburban settlements, where running water is often non-existent. Residents in these areas rely on various methods to obtain water, including installing water tanks, digging wells, or purchasing drinking water brought in by tanker trucks.

While Azerbaijan has made progress in improving access to potable water, the water quality remains a concern for many of its citizens. The government's initiatives provide hope for further enhancements, but more comprehensive efforts are needed to ensure a consistent and safe water supply for all.

Water scarcity in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has been facing a water scarcity problem for many years. Despite state promises to address the issue, water shortages persist due to a variety of factors, including a lack of proper water infrastructure, insufficient wastewater treatment and management facilities, and inadequate public awareness about water conservation. The growing urban population, driven by internal migration, further exacerbates the problem.

One of the main reasons for the water scarcity in Azerbaijan is the country's outdated water infrastructure. The nation inherited an extensive water supply system from the Soviet era, which gradually deteriorated due to a lack of investment and maintenance. This has resulted in a significant decrease in the quality and reliability of water supply services, particularly in small towns and rural areas. The World Bank reported that "most small towns and rural areas lack access to professionally operated services."

The management of water resources and the lack of transparency in institutions responsible for water management, distribution, and policies also contribute to the water shortage crisis. Various state institutions are involved in water management, including the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency (ASWRA), the National Water Commission, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and several others. However, critics argue that centralizing the entire drinking water network within a single institution, ASWRA, is counterproductive. Economist Rovshan Agayev suggests that responsibilities should be distributed among relevant state institutions to improve efficiency.

The impact of the water scarcity problem fallssection on the local population, especially villagers and farmers. Residents of the northern region of Zaqatala have experienced water shortages, with the two largest villages suffering from drought for years. Similarly, residents of Saatli resorted to staging protests after their attempts to reach officials and relevant institutions failed to resolve their water shortage issues. Instead of addressing their concerns, the government responded by firing rubber bullets at the protestors. Even the capital city, Baku, has not been immune to water scarcity, with several districts experiencing weeks-long water outages during the summer.

Azerbaijan has taken some steps to address the water scarcity issue. With support from the World Bank, the country implemented its second water supply and sanitation project, which focused on rehabilitating and reconstructing water and sanitation facilities in eight rural districts. By the end of 2019, the project provided over 324,000 Azerbaijanis with improved water and sanitation services, increasing access to 24-hour water availability. Additionally, the government has shown interest in expanding regional water purification facilities and has established the Hovsan Training and Innovation Center to enhance operational teams' skills in water supply and sanitation management.

Water sanitation in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has been facing challenges in providing its citizens with reliable access to potable water. While the country has made progress in terms of economic development and infrastructure, environmental sustainability and water quality have suffered. Groundwater pollution from oil spills, pipeline and storage tank leaks, and factory waste dumped into rivers have all contributed to the poor water quality. The Absheron Peninsula, home to 50% of Azerbaijan's population, is particularly affected, with severe air, water, and soil pollution.

The country's water supply system, inherited from the Soviet era, has deteriorated due to a lack of investment and maintenance, resulting in a decrease in water quality and reliability. This has led to a situation where many small towns lack safe water supplies and functioning sewerage collection services, posing a serious threat to public health and the environment. However, the government has recognised the issue and is working to improve the situation.

Azerbaijan has implemented various projects to improve water supply and sanitation services, with a focus on rural areas. With support from the World Bank, the country rehabilitated and reconstructed water and sanitation facilities across eight rural districts, providing over 324,000 people with access to treated water and sanitation services. The government's $4 billion Azerbaijan Water Program aims to reduce regional inequalities and provide reliable basic services to households in all rayon centres.

The Azersu Open Joint Stock Company is responsible for policy and strategy regarding water supply and sanitation services in Azerbaijan. They manage the extraction, treatment, transportation, and sales of water, as well as wastewater treatment. However, despite these efforts, water quality issues persist, and the majority of Baku residents prefer not to drink tap water due to concerns about its suitability for drinking.

To address the issue of drinking water quality, residents of Baku rely on various solutions, including purchasing drinking water, installing water filters, and boiling water before consumption. The government has also expressed a commitment to improving the situation, with Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev acknowledging the tense situation with the water supply in 2020. While progress has been made, providing a reliable and sustainable water supply to all citizens remains a challenge for Azerbaijan.

Safe drinking water in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has made significant progress in providing its citizens with reliable access to gas and electricity. However, the country faces challenges in ensuring a consistent supply of potable water. Water quality in Azerbaijan is a critical issue, and various factors have contributed to the decline in water quality over the years.

Groundwater pollution from oil spills, pipeline and storage tank leaks, and factory waste dumped into rivers have severely impacted the country's water sources. In addition, the salinity of the water table due to seawater intrusion and outdated equipment in water treatment plants further exacerbates the problem. As a result, Azerbaijan has gained a reputation as an environmental disaster zone, with the Absheron Peninsula, home to 50% of the country's population, being considered the most ecologically devastated area globally due to severe air, water, and soil pollution.

The government of Azerbaijan has recognized the urgency of the situation and is taking steps to improve the environmental conditions in the country. Efforts to expand and upgrade the water supply system have resulted in increased access to water for many citizens. For example, the centralized water supply system in Baku now covers 2.366 million people, a significant increase from 1.56 million just a decade ago. Additionally, the volume of water supplied to Baku and the Absheron Peninsula has increased by 23% over the last ten years.

To address the issue of water quality, Azerbaijan has implemented several projects with the support of international organizations. The "Second National Water Supply and Sanitation Services" project, financed by the World Bank and the Government of Azerbaijan, aims to rehabilitate and reconstruct water supply and sanitation systems in 26 regions across the country. The project has a total cost of $410 million, with $260 million financed by international loans and $150 million funded by the government. This project is part of the government's larger $4 billion Azerbaijan Water Program, which aims to reduce regional inequalities in access to basic services such as water and sanitation.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Baku, the capital city, still struggles with water supply issues, and many residents rely on private solutions such as water tanks and filters to ensure a consistent supply of clean water. The authorities had promised to provide round-the-clock water supply to the entire city by 2013, but this has not been achieved. The situation is even more dire in suburban and rural areas, where many settlements lack running water altogether.

Overall, while Azerbaijan has made progress in improving access to potable water, the country continues to face significant challenges in ensuring a consistent and safe water supply for its citizens, particularly in rural and suburban areas. The government's ongoing efforts and international partnerships provide hope for further improvements in the future.

Efforts to improve water quality in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has been facing a major issue with its drinking water quality. The government has been lagging in providing potable water to its citizens, with a large percentage of the population lacking easy access to drinkable water. However, the country has been making efforts to improve the situation. Here are some key efforts and initiatives to improve water quality in Azerbaijan:

• The government has shown motivation to enhance the environmental situation. Over the last decade, the centralized water supply system in Baku, the capital, has expanded its coverage from 1.56 million to 2.366 million people. The volume of water supplied to Baku and the Absheron Peninsula has also increased by 23% in the last ten years.
• The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has been installing modular sewage treatment plants in villages located along rivers. This initiative has benefited more than 200 villages by improving their access to clean water.
• Baku's new water pipeline demonstrates the government's commitment to improving water quality. There are also plans to expand regional water purification facilities.
• Azerbaijan's second water supply and sanitation project, completed in 2019, focused on rehabilitating and reconstructing water and sanitation facilities across eight rural districts. This project was financed by the World Bank and the Government of Azerbaijan. It provided over 324,000 people with improved water supply and sanitation services, ensuring 24-hour access to water.
• The project also established the Hovsan Training and Innovation Center, which provides training in water supply and sanitation management, power engineering, automation, and more. This center now trains over 3,000 people annually.
• The $4 billion Azerbaijan Water Program aims to reduce regional inequalities and provide reliable basic services, including water and sanitation, to households in all rayon centers. This program has received support from various development partners, such as the Asian Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.
• The government has been working closely with agencies such as the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, AZERSU (a government-owned national water supply and sanitation operator), and the State Amelioration and Water Management Agency to address water-related issues.

Frequently asked questions