THE CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE

GOALS OF WATER SUPPLY IN AZERBAIJAN

R.A.Ismayilov (PhD)

23.01.2015, Central Park hotel

“Azersu” OJSC

Water resources of Azerbaijan and their use

Average annual volume of

water resources of Azerbaijan

36 mlrd.m3

Surface water

27 bln.m3

Ground water

9 bln.m3

Transboundary water resources- 21 bln.m3

Annual use of water

resources

Annual use of

surface water

11-12 bln.m3

Annual use of

ground water

2,5-2,8 bln.m3

The amount of precipitations per unit is (mln.m3):

1 - <0,20; 2 - 0,20-0,50; 3 - 0,50-1,00;4 - 1,00-1,50; 5 -<1,50

Map on resource potential of

atmospheric precipitations in

Azerbaijan

Water Reservoirs

Number of water reservoirs – about 140

Total area of water reservoirs – 87 ths. ha

Water volume collected into the reservoirs – 22 mlrd.m3

Lakes

Number of lakes - about 450

Total area of lakes- 394 ths. ha

Total water resources of lakes – about 900 mln.m3

Water resources of sweetwater lakes – about 30-50 mln.m3

Glaciers

Total area of glaciers – about 6,6 km2

Water resources of glaciers – 0,08 km3

Approved regional exploitation resources of groundwater

Hydro geological region Administrative regions

Area of approved

resources territory, km2

Approved regional

exploitation resources,

ths m3/ day

Ganja-Gazakh Gazakh , Agstafa,Tovuz,

Shamkir,Khanlar,

Goranboy,Yevlakh 4050 4004,0

Karabakh Yevlakh, Tartar, Barda,

Agdam, Agjabadi 3360 1806,0

Mil Plain Agdam. Agjabadi,

Fuzuli,Beylagan, İmishli 3834 348,7

Shirvan Agdash, Goychay, Ucar,

Agsu 2100 359,0

Alazan- Ayrichay Balakan, Zaqatala,Gakh,

Shaki, Oguz, Gabala,

İsmayıllı 3000 2000,0

Jabrayıl Zangilan, Jabrayıl, Fuzuli 450 193,0

Lankaran Jalilabad,Masallı,

Lankaran,Astara 1370 162.0

Nakhchıvan Sadarak, Sharur, Babek,

Culfa, Ordubad 1480 902.2

Samur – Gusarchay Xachmaz, Gusar, Guba,

Shabran 925 2156,0

1 – Potable groundwater are spread over entire area, there is favorable condition for construction of centralized groundwater intakes; 2

– groundwater zones of tectonic fractures, collector quality rocks zones; 3 – quality of potable groundwater and limited resources give an

opportunity to drill wells and construct local water intakes only in some place; 4 – there is no potable ground water in the area; 5 –

border among areas which have different use availabilities in ground water

The map of providing with the groundwater, acceptable for drink

at the territory of Azerbaijan (A.B.Alakbarov)

Surface and groundwater with mineralization ratio of about 1,0 gr/l, in some cases about 1,5 g/l is used for drinking and household needs in Azerbaijan

Annual use of surface water resources - 11-12 bln. m3

Annual use of groundwater resources - 2,5-2,8 bln.m3

Use of water resources

Contamination Concerns

Heavy contamination of Araz, Kura Rivers and their tributaries:

Kura river with its triburary Agstafachay:

Oil products

Phenol etc

Ammonia nitrogen

Araz River with its tributaries Arpachay & Okhchuchay:

Ammonia & nitrite nitrogen

Heavy metals

Domestic, Industrial and Agricultural pollution;

Bacteriological contamination in the vicinity of farm lands, urban areas, cattle

farms, treatment plants etc.

Main principals of potable water supply strategy of

Azerbaijan

I. Provision of each

citizen with qualitative

potable water

II. Integrated usage of water

resources

III. Use of water

resources on basin principle

1 • Conducting integrated management of water resources upon co-

ordination with river basins within catchment area

2

• Planning and joint management of usage of water resources for the purpose of drinking, irrigating, obtaining energy and industry within catchment area

3

• The same significance integration of social, economic and environmental factors in planning and management of water resources

4

• Transparency in integrated management of water resources and in the course of making decision with participation of non-governmental and public organizations

Main principals of integrated management of water resources

Advantages of integrated management of water resources

Integrated management of water resources

provides stabile and possessing water supply, not

depending on location of customers within

catchment area

Existing and potential exploitation resources of

surface and groundwater bodies are evaluated

within catchment area

Water usage limits are determined based on

users’ water demand

Given priorities identified by state, water usage

hierarchy is determined based on coordination and

mutual understanding

Use of surface and groundwater is implemented

based on unit planning

Use of surface and groundwater bodies is selected

based on compared technical-economic efficiency

The coordination is ensured among customers

through water users associations and communities

Water loss occurred as a result of accurate

coordination of activities in all hierarchy levels of

management is minimized

Integration is established in policy, legislation

and management in water sector

Organizations work with self financing

facility, therefore state support is minimized

“Service pay” principle is realized

All members of society are aware of

limited water resources upon application of

thrifty and efficiency stimulus of water

Accurate measurement of supplied and

discharged water is executed

Management is implemented with

participation of all stakeholders and

services is delivered based on contracts

Consultations are carried out with

community, stakeholders is involved in

order to make decisions

Water user associations have accurate

right and responsibilities as legal entity in

terms of water economic units

Prompt legislation is ensured in

accordance with dynamically improving

condition

Inviolability of ecological water

allocations is ensured for environmental

safeguard and protection

The legislative framework for the water governance in Azerbaijan

Water Code of the Azerbaijan

Republic

Law on water supply and waste water

Law on Earth Interior

Law on Environmental

Protection

Law on Amelioration and

Irrigation

Municipal Water Law

Law on security of Hydro-technical

facilities and etc.

In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved rules for use of water,

sanitary protection zones, water cadastre and other regulations.

Unlike other countries in the Caucasus, Azerbaijan ratified the convention of UN, on "Protection

and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes” (Helsinki, 1992)

For the preparation of IWRM chart:

Economic regions

Complex research and measures are necessary

Across the country

River basins Administrative districts

Future goals of water supply in Azerbaijan

Surface and groundwater resources are sufficient for provision

of sustainable Potable Water Supply of country people

The main problem is unequal distribution of water resources

The basis of strategy is to ensure the delivery of these resources

to consumers

Groundwater resources in a capacity of 9 bln.m3/year give an

opportunity to supply country people with potable water

Transmission of groundwater resources of Shaki-Zagatala,

Ganja-Gazakh and Guba-Khachmaz regions (about 60 % of

groundwater resources formed there) to other regions is

perspective potentials of potable water supply.

Future goals of water supply in Azerbaijan

Future goals of water supply in Azerbaijan

Pollution of Kura, Araz and other rivers in neighboring countries

limits strategic potential of transit water resources (in a capacity

of 21 bln.m3/year) as potable water in Azerbaijan.

There is no guarantee that transit river flow will enter Azerbaijan

territory without pollution in future

River flow in a capacity of 6 bln.m3/year formed in Azerbaijan

gives an opportunity to provide country people with safe potable

water supply

Local river flow potential will be used in water supply by means

of water reservoirs on the basis of integrated management of

water resources.

Future goals of water supply in Azerbaijan

Possibility of atmospheric precipitations usage in a capacity of 27

bln.m3/year evaporated and excluded inefficiently is one of

significant directions of Potable Water Supply.

Construction of small reservoirs gives an opportunity to provide

settlements most located blow stated height with water supply via

self-flowing regime in order to collect precipitations spent for

evaporation at a height of 1000-1500m

Future goals of water supply in Azerbaijan

Reconstruction of water sector

In recent years in Azerbaijan is implemented:

o creation and reconstruction of water supply systems in all cities and in most villages o creation and reconstruction of sewerage systems

o creation and reconstruction of irrigation and drainage systems

o creation and reconstruction of water treatment plants

o creation large and small water reservoirs and etc.

The works are realized by Government of Azerbaijan with the financing of investments of:

the World Bank

the Asian Development Bank

the Islamic Development Bank

the KfW Bank of Germany

Sweden’s SECO organization

the Japanese International Cooperation Agency

the Korean International Cooperation Agency

the Saudi Development Fund and other financial institutions

Water supply and sewerage project in Azerbaijan Economical region Cities Towns and villages covered by the

project

Absheron economic region Khizi city 4 settlements

Quba-Khachmaz economic region

Siazan city -

Shabran city 2 settlements

Quba city 5 settlements

Qusar city 10 settlements

Khachmaz city 5 settlements

Daglig Shirvan economic region

Gobustan city 7 settlements

Shamakhi city -

Agsu city 2 settlements

Ismailli city -

Shaki-Zagatala economic region

Balakan city 3 settlements

Zagatala city 7 settlements

Qakh city 2 settlements

Shaki city 2 settlements

Oghuz city 6 settlements

Qabala city -

Water supply and sewerage project in Azerbaijan Economical region Cities Towns and villages covered by the project

Aran economic region

Aghjabadi city 2 settlements

Agdash city 6 settlements

Barda city 8 settlements

Beylagan city 2 settlements

Bilasuvar city 24 settlements

Goychay city -

Hajigabul city 3 settlements

Imishli city 1 settlement

Kurdamir city 22 settlements

Mingachevir city -

Neftchala city 13 settlements

Saatly city 13 settlements

Sabirabad city 9 settlements

Salyan city 40 settlements

Shirvan city 2 settlements

Ujar city 15 settlements

Yevlakh city 12 settlements

Zardab city 11 settlements

Water supply and sewerage project in Azerbaijan

Economical region Cities Towns and villages covered by the

project

Ganja-Kazakh economic region

Agstafa city 3 settlements

Dashkasan city 2 settlements

Gadabay city 5 settlements

Ganja city -

Goranboy city 15 settlements

Goygol city 10 settlements

Naftalan city 3 settlements

Qazakh city 4 settlements

Samukh city 8 settlements

Shamkir city -

Tovuz city 2 settlements

Upper Karabakh economic

region

Tartar city 11 settlements

Water supply and sewerage project in Azerbaijan

Economical region Cities Towns and villages covered by the

project

Lankaran-Astara economic region

Astara city 27 settlements

Jalilabad city 17 settlements

Lankaran city 7 settlements

Lerik city -

Masally city 4 settlements

Yardymli city 3 settlements

Depending on the water source and the type of

water intake, all projects are implemented in

accordance with modern standards and water

treatment requirements.

Suitable condition is being established to ensure

achievement of fundamental changes in water

supply system of Azerbaijan via provision of

integrated management of water resources