Water use in Tashkent far exceeds global norms

In Tashkent, the average daily per capita consumption of drinking water stands at 230–270 liters, the highest rate across Uzbekistan. This was stated by Akmal Murodov, spokesperson for the joint-stock company “Uzsuvta’minot”, in an interview with Daryo.

According to Murodov, the lowest rate in the country is found in Kashkadarya region, where daily water consumption per person ranges between 80–100 liters. Globally, using 120–150 liters of water per person per day is already considered high.

“Water distribution varies depending on population location. For example, in Tashkent city, drinking water consumption reaches between 230 and 270 liters per person per day. The lowest figure is in Kashkadarya region – just 80–100 liters per capita. In global practice, even 120–150 liters per person daily is considered a high number. It’s the same in developed European countries. This does not mean they consume less water – it means they use water consciously and efficiently,” Murodov said.

In his view, such figures are alarming for a country that relies heavily on external water sources.

“Unfortunately, in Uzbekistan, drinking water is used to wash cars and carpets. In summer, swimming pools are filled and then drained into sewers and ditches without even being used for a couple of days. For a country where only 20 percent of water resources are formed domestically, such behavior is disastrous. This never ceases to amaze me,” said the Uzsuvta’minot spokesperson.

According to data from the Ministry of Water Resources of Uzbekistan, by 2030 the country may face a water shortage of 7 billion cubic meters.

Much of the country’s water infrastructure was built 30 to 40 years ago, and many of these facilities are now in urgent need of repair. Overall, water-saving projects in Uzbekistan are estimated to require about $19 billion in funding. Of this, $4 billion would go toward upgrading pumping stations, while nearly $6 billion would be allocated to subsidize water-saving technologies for businesses.

Water scarcity is not unique to Uzbekistan. According to the World Meteorological Organization, more than 5 billion people globally could experience some form of water shortage by 2050.

The United Nations reports that 2.4 billion people already suffer from water scarcity. About 50 percent of the global population faces water shortages for at least one month every year, while 500 million people live under conditions of permanent water scarcity.