Kazakhstan (Kok-Ozek)

Kok-Ozek village – Rural Water Supply Project

The people of the Kok-Ozek village near Almaty, Kazakhstan, are now receiving water through the newly-constructed network and the established cooperative continues to operate in the area.

Ensuring access to safe drinking water is one of the most important problems in Kazakhstan, especially in rural regions. Water supply systems  in Kazakhstan inherited from the Soviet Period are in physical disrepair and lack sound management and economic footing. Most of the water collection, treatment and distribution infrastructure is deteriorating, and many pipelines no longer comply with the sanitary and technical standards, due to pollution of water resources and unsatisfactory technical conditions of water supply systems. Unhealthy conditions of water supply systems and poor quality of drinking water cause water-born diseases and also have a negative impact on the social and economic development of  rural areas.

According to the UNDP survey conducted in 2005-2006, over 30 percent of the population does not have access to safe drinking water in the country (60 percent in rural regions). Low access to water in Kazakhstan can be attributed to  the poor technical conditions of water supply facilities in which repairs were conducted only within a limited scope due to lack of funding for several years.

old and broken water utility in Kok-Ozek

The Rural Water Supply Project is designed to overcome water-related problems of rural areas in Kazakhstan. The project is aimed at improving access to drinking water and the provision of water supply services in rural settlements.

What is the objective?
This project targets improved access to safe drinking water, advocacy and communication.

The objective of the project is to rehabilitate rural water supply systems in Kazakhstan, which in addition to engineering works, will include the establishment of aservice to maintain the rehabilitated facilities, as well as training programs for relevant Operation & Managament staff and other targeted groups such as students and local communities.