Chairman of the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency Zaur Mikayilov stated during his speech at the Baku Climate Action Week that the country's freshwater resources have decreased by 25 percent. According to him, since the 1980s, the level of the Caspian Sea has dropped by approximately two meters, and a similar reduction in volume has been observed in the waters of the Kura River: "These facts are considered clear indicators of climate change in the region. Against the backdrop of decreasing water resources, losses in drinking water and irrigation networks remain high. At the same time, only one-third of the population has access to modern wastewater treatment services."
Deputy Chairman of the State Water Resources Agency Zakir Guliyev also stated last week at the Regional Climate Conference on "Strengthening Climate Measures in the Agro-Food Sector of European and Central Asian Countries" that Azerbaijan's water resources are very limited: "Based on multi-year data, the country's surface water resources amount to 30 billion cubic meters. Only 30 percent of these resources are formed within the country's territory, while 70 percent come from neighboring countries' territories. In recent years, due to climate changes and prolonged droughts, the flow of Azerbaijan's main water arteries—the Kura and Araz rivers—has sharply decreased, and many internal rivers have completely dried up. Under such conditions, during the hot months of the year, the demand for water by agricultural plants reaches a maximum, making it difficult to supply irrigation water. Solving this problem requires more efficient use of existing water resources and, on the other hand, a more detailed study of the possibilities of using unconventional waters (underground, collector-drainage, wastewater, sea) for irrigating agricultural plants. According to forecast data, the country's water resources are expected to decrease by 20-25 percent between 2020-2050 and by 30-35 percent between 2070-2100."
The Medianews.az website has turned to environmental expert Rovshan Abbasov regarding the issue of the reduction of freshwater resources in our country.
R. Abbasov stated that the impact of climate change in Azerbaijan is increasing day by day: "This is reflected in the reduction of water resources as well. It has already been calculated that Azerbaijan's water resources have decreased by up to 20 percent. This effect is expected to increase even more. Thus, in the future, the use of traditional water resources will be limited. To solve the problem, first and foremost, it is necessary to use alternative water sources. Naturally, when we talk about alternative water sources, we mean the desalination of Caspian Sea water, desalination of mineral groundwater in general, and also the reuse of wastewater. For this purpose, there are very significant opportunities in Azerbaijan. Especially on the Absheron Peninsula, in Azerbaijan's 825-kilometer coastal zone, the desalination and use of Caspian Sea water offers great potential. Also, there are possibilities for desalinating and reusing agricultural wastewater discharged into the Caspian Sea via collectors."
R. Abbasov noted that the practice of treating and reusing wastewater is widespread in developed countries around the world: "In countries such as Japan, the USA, France, and Germany, wastewater is treated and reused. There are extensive opportunities for this in Azerbaijan as well. In Baku alone, the total volume of wastewater generated today is close to 15-20 cubic meters per second, and this water can be treated and reused for any purpose. I believe that such approaches will ensure increased access to water in Azerbaijan in the future and also help reduce the amount of water taken from our water bodies. They will enhance the efficiency of water use."
Nailə Qasımova,
Medianews.az
