Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have agreed to install metering devices at each other’s locations that will allow them to measure the exact volume of water consumed by both countries, the press service of the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said.
The parties will reportedly exchange information about reciprocal water consumption online. Now experts from both countries are deciding where water meters will be installed. Negotiations are underway with international organizations to engage them in this project.
Previously, Patar and Sarvak transboundary gauging stations, which will allow for more accurate measurements of water flow for irrigation, were installed along the Northern and Greater Fergana Canals on the border of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Water consumption by both countries has been measured in the border area before, but the equipment is outdated. The gauging stations were updated with the support of the Blue Peace Central Asia initiative of the Swiss government.
Earlier in 2023, Kazakhstan announced that it intended to amend the Syrdarya river basin water and energy resources use agreement with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The Kazakh authorities pointed to a violation of the ecological state of the river due to pollutants coming from Uzbekistan.
