Water Related Health Problems in Central Asia—A Review

Water quality and dissolved load in the Chirchik and Akhangaran river basins (Uzbekistan, Central Asia)

Uzbekistan (Central Asia) is experiencing serious water stress as a consequence of altered climate regime, past over-exploitation, and dependence from neighboring countries for water supply. The Chirchik-Akhangaran drainage basin, in the Tashkent province of Uzbekistan, includes watersheds from the Middle Tien Shan Mountains escarpments and the downstream floodplain of the Chirchik and Akhangaran rivers, major tributaries of the Syrdarya river. Water in the Chirchik-Akhangaran basin is facing potential anthropogenic pressure from different sources at the scale of river reaches, from both industrial and agricultural activities. In this study, the major and trace element chemistry of surface water and groundwater from the Chirchik-Akhangaran basin were investigated, with the aim of addressing the geogenic and anthropogenic contributions to the dissolved load. The results indicate that the geochemistry of water from the upstream catchments reflects the weathering of exposed lithologies. A significant increase in Na+, K+, SO42-, Cl-, and NO3- was observed downstream, indicating loadings from fertilizers used in croplands. However, quality parameters suggest that waters are generally suitable for irrigation purposes, even if the total dissolved solid indicates a possible salinity hazard. The concentration of trace elements (including potentially toxic elements) was lower than the thresholds set for water quality by different regulations. However, an exceedingly high concentration of Zn, Mo, Sb, Pb, Ni, U, As, and B compared with the average river water worldwide was observed. Water in a coal fly-ash large pond related to the Angren coal-fired power plants stands out for the high As, Al, B, Mo, and Sb concentration, having a groundwater contamination potential during infiltration. Spring waters used for drinking purposes meet the World Health Organization and the Republic of Uzbekistan quality standards. However, a surveillance of such drinking-water supplies is suggested. The obtained results are indicators for an improved water resource management.

Prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites among Asian schoolchildren: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Intestinal protozoan parasites among Asian schoolchildren are a subject of concern due to their prevalence and potential health impact. Understanding and addressing this issue is crucial for public health in the region.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive search for articles published up to December 2023 across four databases, including Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, and Web of Science. To estimate the combined prevalence, a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied, and the statistical analysis was performed using meta-analysis packages in R version (3.6.1). This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023481146).

RESULTS

Among 131 eligible articles, the prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites was 0.208 (95% CI = 0.180-0.238). Lebanon and Tajikistan had the highest country-level prevalence at 0.851 and 0.836, respectively, with Giardia duodenalis being the most prevalent species at 0.082.

CONCLUSION

In summary, our study highlights the urgent public health issue of protozoan parasites among Asian schoolchildren due to poor sanitation and water quality. Immediate interventions are essential, considering climate and socioeconomic factors, to combat these infections and improve overall health.

Outbreak of acute gastroenteritis associated with drinking water in rural Kazakhstan: A matched case-control study

We conducted an outbreak investigation from June 3 to 15th in a rural village in northern Kazakhstan, after surveillance showed an increase in gastroenteritis. Cases were residents who presented for medical treatment for diarrhea, fever (>37.5 °C), vomiting, or weakness from May 14 to June 15, 2021. Controls were residents matched by age ±2 years at a ratio of two controls for every case. Cases and controls were interviewed using structured questionnaires. We abstracted clinical data from medical records. We mapped cases and assessed risk for disease using conditional multivariable logistic regression. We identified 154 cases of acute gastroenteritis (attack rate of ~26 per 1,000 inhabitants). Symptoms were diarrhea, fever, vomiting, weakness, and decreased appetite. Among cases that participated (n = 107), 74% reported having drank unboiled tap water vs 18% of controls (n = 219). This was the only risk factor associated with disease (adjusted odds ratio: 18; 95% CI 9-35). Drinking water from a dispenser or carbonated drinks was protective. The city has two water supply networks; cases were clustered (107 cases in 79 households) in one. The investigation found that monitoring of quality and safety of water according to national regulations had not been conducted since 2018. No fatalities occurred, and no associated cases were reported after our investigation. Results suggest that untreated tap water was the probable source of the outbreak. The water supply had been cleaned and disinfected twice by the facility 2 days before our investigation began. Recommendations were made for regular monitoring of water supply facilities with rapid public notification when issues are detected to reduce likelihood of future drinking water associated outbreaks.

Exploration of the driving factors and distribution of fecal coliform in rivers under a traditional agro-pastoral economy in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia

Fecal coliform (FC) in river water is one of the threats to human health. To explore the pollution status of FC in rivers of Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous country with traditional agro-pastoral economy, 184 water samples from the rivers of Kyrgyzstan in low and high river flow period were analyzed. Spatial autocorrelation and classical statistical methods were used to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution and driving factors of FC. The results showed that the surface water quality of Kyrgyz rivers was good, and the concentration range of FC was 0-23 MPN/100 mL. Temporally, the maximum FC concentration was 4 MPN/100 mL in low river flow period, while in the period of high river flow, the highest value reached to 23 MPN/100 mL. Spatially, the concentration of FC in high altitude areas was low, while that in the lowland areas was relatively high, which indicated that animal husbandry in high altitude areas contributed little to FC in rivers, and urban domestic sewage and agricultural activities in lowlands were the main pollution sources of FC in rivers. There was no correlation between FC and hardness, electrical conductivity (EC), pH and total organic carbon (TOC) in river water of Kyrgyzstan, and the distribution of FC in high river flow period was mainly driven by population and human modification of terrestrial systems. The results can provide a basis for the prevention and control of surface water FC pollution and related diseases in Kyrgyzstan.

A review of water pollution arising from agriculture and mining activities in Central Asia: Facts, causes and effects

Central Asia is one of many regions worldwide that face severe water shortages; nevertheless, water pollution in this region exacerbates the existing water stress and increases the risk of regional water conflicts. In this study, we perform an extensive literature review, and the data show that water pollution in Central Asia is closely linked to human activities. Within the Asian Gold Belt, water pollution is influenced mainly by mining, and the predominant pollutants are heavy metals and radionuclides. However, in the irrigated areas along the middle and lower reaches of inland rivers (e.g., the Amu Darya and Syr Darya), water pollution is strongly associated with agriculture. Hence, irrigated areas are characterized by high concentrations of ammonia, nitrogen, and phosphorus. In addition, the salinities of rivers and groundwater in the middle and lower reaches of inland rivers generally increase along the flow path due to high rates of evaporation. Soil salinization and frequent salt dust storms in the Aral Sea basin further increase the pollution of surface water bodies. Ultimately, the pollution of surface water and groundwater poses risks to human health and deteriorates the ecological environment. To prevent further water pollution, joint monitoring of the surface water and groundwater quantity and quality throughout Central Asia must be implemented immediately.

Health Impact of Drying Aral Sea: One Health and Socio-Economical Approach

Once one of the largest saline lakes, the Aral Sea, was recognized as a significant environmental disaster as the water level decreased dramatically. Water level decrease increases water salinity, affecting biodiversity. Exposed lake beds become the source for fine dust picked up by the dust storms and spread across a long distance, affecting people’s health in surrounding areas. This review paper attempts to evaluate the potential links between the Aral Sea shrinking and the existing health issues in the case of Kazakhstan. The literature-based research revealed that the population of the Aral Sea basin region has been suffering from exposure to various pollutant residues for a long time. There is an apparent increase in morbidity and mortality rates in the region, especially in people suffering from chronic illness. Furthermore, the catastrophic desiccation of the Aral Sea has led to the sharp deterioration in living conditions and negative trends in the socio-economic situation of the region’s population. While the dust storms spread the polluted salts from the exposed bottom across the Aral Sea region, specific contaminants define the relevance and importance of public health problems linked to the basin rather than the Aral Sea drying process. There is, however, no clear evidence that associated dust storms are the only primary source of the deterioration of people’s health. Moreover, One Health approach seems to play a crucial role in achieving better outcomes in the health of people and the health of the environment.

Identifying optimal virtual water management strategy for Kazakhstan: A factorial ecologically-extended input-output model

Virtual water is an important indicator measuring the amount of water needed from the perspective of consumption, which can help decision makers to identify desired system design and optimal management strategy against water resources shortage. In this study, a novel model named as factorial ecologically-extended input-output model (abbreviated as FEIOM) is developed for virtual water management. FEIOM integrates techniques of input-output model (IOM), ecological network analysis (ENA) and factorial analysis (FA) into a general framework. It is effective to evaluate the virtual water flows, reveal ecological inter-connections in virtual water system (VWS), and identify key water consumption sectors that have significant individual and interactive effects on VWS's performance. FEIOM is then applied to identifying optimal virtual water management strategies for Kazakhstan in Central Asia. The main findings are: (i) Kazakhstan is a net importer of virtual water (reaching up to 46.0 × 10⁹ m³), demonstrating that the national economic structure is reasonable, which can abate the national water scarcity and improve its eco-environmental protection; (ii) the virtual water of agricultural sector is net exporter, where vegetables, fruits and nuts occupy 86% of the total agricultural exports; the massive export of water-intensive products further squeezes the water for other users; (iii) the key factors affecting the national VWS are agriculture > primary manufacturing > advanced manufacturing > services. Therefore, from solving water resources shortage and facilitating sustainable development perspectives, Kazakhstan should stimulate the domestic primary manufacturing productions and improve agriculture and advanced manufacturing water-use efficiencies.

Challenges of Access to WASH in Schools in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Case Study from Rural Central Kazakhstan

Safe water and sanitation, which give rise to appropriate hygiene, are fundamental determinants of individual and social health and well-being. Thereby, assessing and widening access to sustainable, durable water and sanitation infrastructure remains a global health issue. Rural areas are already at a disadvantage. Poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) can have a major negative effect on students in rural schools. Thus, the paper aims to assess the current condition and the challenge to access WASH in rural Kazakh schools. The study was conducted in three rural schools in Central Kazakhstan. Data were gathered through a survey among pupils, observations of the WASH infrastructure and maintenance, and a face-to-face interview with school administrators. The mean survey response rate was 65% across schools. Results indicated there was no alternative drinking-water source in schools, and 15% of students said they had access to water only occasionally. Half of the students reported that the water was unsafe to drink because of a poor odor, taste, or color. The toilet in school 3 was locked with a key, and a quarter of the students reported there was no access to a key. Moreover, not having gender-separated toilet facilities was a challenge because of the traditional gender norms. Despite the effective regulations and measures of handwashing taken during COVID-19, 27.7% of the students answered that soap was not offered daily in classrooms. Additionally, warm water was only provided in school 2. About 75% of students did not have access to drying materials continuously. The study shows that having the schools’ infrastructure is not enough when characteristics, such as availability, accessibility, maintenance, operation, quality of services, education, and practices, are ignored. Cooperation between local education authorities, school administration, and parents should be encouraged to the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Agricultural impacts drive longitudinal variations of riverine water quality of the Aral Sea basin (Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers), Central Asia

River ecosystems are under increasing stress in the background of global change and ever-growing anthropogenic impacts in Central Asia. However, available water quality data in this region are insufficient for a reliable assessment of the current status, which come as no surprise that the limited knowledge of regulating processes for further prediction of solute variations hinders the development of sustainable management strategies. Here, we analyzed a dataset of various water quality variables from two sampling campaigns in 2019 in the catchments of two major rivers in Central Asia-the Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers. Our results suggested high spatial heterogeneity of salinity and major ion components along the longitudinal directions in both river catchments, pointing to an increasing influence of human activities toward downstream areas. We linked the modeling outputs from the global nutrient model (IMAGE-GNM) to riverine nutrients to elucidate the effect of different natural and anthropogenic sources in dictating the longitudinal variations of the riverine nutrient concentrations (N and P). Diffuse nutrient loadings dominated the export flux into the rivers, whereas leaching and surface runoff constituted the major fractions for N and P, respectively. Discharge of agricultural irrigation water into the rivers was the major cause of the increases in nutrients and salinity. Given that the conditions in Central Asia are highly susceptible to climate change, our findings call for more efforts to establish holistic management of water quality.

The Energy Situation in Central Asia: A Comprehensive Energy Review Focusing on Rural Areas

The northern part of the globe is dominated by industrialisation and is well-developed. For many years, the southern part of the world (South Asia, Africa etc.) has been a target of research concentrating on access to energy (mainly electricity) in rural regions. However, the Central Asian region has not been a focus of energy research compared to South East Asia and Africa. Despite plentiful domestically available energy resources, the energy supply in Central Asia is very unevenly distributed between urban and rural areas. Almost half of the total population of Central Asia lives in rural areas and there is a lack of access to modern energy services to meet primary needs. To analyse the energy situation (i.e., electricity, heating, hot water consumption, cooking, etc.) in rural Central Asia, this paper reviews residential energy consumption trends in rural Central Asian regions as compared to urban areas. Furthermore, the paper illustrates the potential of renewable energies in Central Asia. To perform the study, a qualitative comparative analysis was conducted based on a literature review, data, and statistical information. In summary, the presented article discusses the rural energy situation analytically and provides in-depth insights of Central Asian energy infrastructure.

Water Conflicts in Central Asia: Some Recommendations on the Non-Conflictual Use of Water

Central Asian states, where freshwater is a strategic resource, are oriented towards regional conflict rather than cooperation. First, the article analyses the role of the unequal distribution of freshwater that has been generating conflicts in Central Asia in the post-Soviet period. Next, these conflicts are examined. Finally, we provide some recommendations on the non-conflictual use of water.

Assessment of groundwater safety surrounding contaminated water storage sites using multivariate statistical analysis and Heckman selection model: a case study of Kazakhstan

Petrochemical enterprises in Kazakhstan discharge polluted wastewater into special recipients. Contaminants infiltrate through the soil into the groundwater, which potentially affects public health and environment safety. This paper presents the evaluation of a 7-year monitoring program from one of the factories and includes nineteen variables from nine wells during 2013-2019. Several multivariate statistical techniques were used to analyse the data: Pearson's correlation matrix, principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The analysis made it possible to specify the contribution of each contaminant to the overall pollution and to identify the most polluted sites. The results also show that concentrations of pollutants in groundwater exceeded both the World Health Organization and Kazakhstani standards for drinking water. For example, average exceedance for total petroleum hydrocarbons was 4 times, for total dissolved solids-5 times, for chlorides-9 times, for sodium-6 times, and total hardness was more than 6 times. It is concluded that host geology and effluents from the petrochemical industrial cluster influence the groundwater quality. Heckman two-step regression analysis was applied to assess the bias of completed analysis for each pollutant, especially to determine a contribution of toxic pollutants into total contamination. The study confirms a high loading of anthropogenic contamination to groundwater from the petrochemical industry coupled with natural geochemical processes.

Pollutant toxicology with respect to microalgae and cyanobacteria

Microalgae and cyanobacteria are fundamental components of aquatic ecosystems. Pollution in aquatic environment is a worldwide problem. Toxicological research on microalgae and cyanobacteria can help to establish a solid foundation for aquatic ecotoxicological assessments. Algae and cyanobacteria occupy a large proportion of the biomass in aquatic environments; thus, their toxicological responses have been investigated extensively. However, the depth of toxic mechanisms and breadth of toxicological investigations need to be improved. While existing pollutants are being discharged into the environment daily, new ones are also being produced continuously. As a result, the phenomenon of water pollution has become unprecedentedly complex. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on five kinds of aquatic pollutants, namely, metals, nanomaterials, pesticides, pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Further, we present information on emerging pollutants such as graphene, microplastics, and ionic liquids. Efforts in studying the toxicological effects of pollutants on microalgae and cyanobacteria must be increased in order to better predict the potential risks posed by these materials to aquatic ecosystems as well as human health.

Hydrochemical composition and potentially toxic elements in the Kyrgyzstan portion of the transboundary Chu-Talas river basin, Central Asia

Water chemistry and the assessment of health risks of potentially toxic elements have important research significance for water resource utilization and human health. However, not enough attention has been paid to the study of surface water environments in many parts of Central Asia. Sixty water samples were collected from the transboundary river basin of Chu-Talas during periods of high and low river flow, and the hydrochemical composition, including major ions and potentially toxic elements (Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, and As), was used to determine the status of irrigation suitability and risks to human health. The results suggest that major ions in river water throughout the entire basin are mainly affected by water-rock interactions, resulting in the dissolution and weathering of carbonate and silicate rocks. The concentrations of major ions change to some extent with different hydrological periods; however, the hydrochemical type of calcium carbonate remains unchanged. Based on the water-quality assessment, river water in the basin is classified as excellent/good for irrigation. The relationship between potentially toxic elements (Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, and As) and major ions is basically the same between periods of high and low river flow. There are significant differences between the sources of potentially toxic elements (Zn, Pb, Cu, and As) and major ions; however, Cr may share the same rock source as major ions. The risk assessment revealed low non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for human health; however, the maximum carcinogenic risk for As exceeded the allowable value, which requires further consideration. These results provide a scientific basis for the management of agricultural irrigation uses and also infill existing gaps regarding the hydrochemical composition in the Chu-Talas river basin, Central Asia.

The Future of Water Management in Central Asia

Central Asia is an increasingly important strategic geopolitical region. During the latest decades, the region has often been identified as close to potential conflict regarding water usage. This includes the sharing of water from the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya in the Aral Sea Basin. The Aral Sea disaster has exposed a complex picture of water needs and potential political conflict. Rapid population increase together with climate change impacts are likely to further aggravate the short- and long-term future precarious situation for water management in the region. This Special Issue focuses on present and future water management issues in Central Asia in view of future climate changes and how these will affect socioeconomic development. Central Asia is, in general, water rich; however, exercising efficient and fair water management will be important in view of future population increase and climate change. At the same time, water and natural resource development is a cornerstone in all the Central Asian republics. Especially, water resources are, to a great extent, shared between all five republics. A common ground for water-sharing is, therefore, of utmost importance.

Heavy Metals and Related Human Health Risk Assessment for River Waters in the Issyk-Kul Basin, Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia

The water resources of Central Asia play an important role in maintaining the fragile balance of ecosystems and the sustainable development of human society. However, the lack of research on the heavy metals in river waters has a far−reaching influence on public health and the sustainable development in Central Asia. In order to reveal the possible sources of the heavy metals and to assess the associated human health risks, thirty−eight water samples were collected from the rivers of the Issyk−Kul Basin during the period with low river flow (May) and the period with high river flow (July and August), and the hydrochemical compositions and major ions of heavy metals were analyzed. No changes in hydrochemical facies were observed between the two periods and the river water type was calcium bicarbonate. Carbonate dissolution and silicate weathering controlled the variation of cations and anions in river waters from the Issyk−Kul Basin. There were some differences in the sources of heavy metals in water bodies between the two periods. During the period with low river flow, heavy metals (Cr) were closely clustered with major ions, indicating that they were mainly affected by water–rock interactions. During the period with high river flow, all heavy metals studied in this paper had different sources of major ions, and the heavy metals maybe influenced by human activities. From the human health risk assessment, the hazard quotients for all samples were less than 1, reflecting that there was no noncarcinogenic risk in the river waters of the Issyk−Kul Basin during the two sampling periods. However, the water samples with carcinogenic risk of arsenic exceeding the threshold (10⁻⁴) accounted for 21.1% of the total, indicating that there were some certain carcinogenic hazards for human health via water drinking with direct oral ingestion. The results are of certain significance for the utilization and protection of water resources in the basin as well as the protection of public health.

Drying Lakes: A Review on the Applied Restoration Strategies and Health Conditions in Contiguous Areas

Decrease of saline lakes, which comprise 44% of all available lake water, is a major concern. It additionally accelerates the desertification process of the region. Thus, various countries have taken different actions in protecting their lake water levels. The aim of this paper is to assess different strategies directed to tackle the decreased lake water levels in Lake Urmia and the Aral Sea, which split into the North Aral Sea and South Aral Sea. These are among the world’s largest and fastest drying saline lakes observed in the past 50 years and have both reduced to 10% of their original size. The paper presents a thorough review of academic reports, official documents, and databases. Although the dry-up of a lake is a natural process, it has been sped up by human interventions in the hydrological cycle. Dust storms (strong winds) cause problems in the surroundings. In the case of the Aral Sea, they transmit the pollutants from the dry lake bed causing severe health issues. Various strategies were implemented to manage the socio-economic conditions caused due to the drying of lakes. The strategy implemented for the North Aral Sea was to restore the lake by reducing the water withdrawals from the Syr Darya river, which lead to increased water inflow to the sea. The suggested strategy for Lake Urmia was to restore the lake by water transfer activities from various water sources. These projects have not yet been realized. The strategy implemented for the South Aral Sea was to use a dry lake bed to diversify the economy by oil and mineral extraction along with developing a tourist industry based on the considerable interest to come and observe an ecological disaster of such monumental proportions. These findings show that there is no common best solution for this type of problem. The best fit depends on the local context and it is strongly path-dependent.

Quality of Drinking Water in the Balkhash District of Kazakhstan’s Almaty Region

The thinly populated Balkhash District of Kazakhstan’s Almaty Region lies in the lower reaches of the Ili-Balkhash basin, which is shared by China and Kazakhstan. The district is arid and heavily dependent on inflows of surface water, which are threatened by the effects of upstream population growth, economic development, and climate change. The quality of drinking water from centralized water systems and tube wells in nine villages of the district was analyzed, and the organoleptic properties of water from these sources was also assessed by an expert and via surveys of local residents. Although most samples met governmental standards for the absence of chemical impurities, high concentrations of mineralization, chlorides, boron, iron, and/or uranium were present in some well water samples. Levels of these pollutants were as much as 4-fold higher than governmental maxima and as much as 16-fold higher than concentrations reported previously in surface water. All centralized water samples met standards for absence of microbial contamination, but total microbial counts in some well water samples exceeded standards. Organoleptic standards were met by all the water from five villages, but centralized water from one village and well water from four villages failed to meet standards based on expert judgment. Residents were, for the most part, more satisfied with centralized rather than well water, but there was no obvious relationship between the failure of water to meet standards and the locations or populations of the settlements. This is the first comprehensive assessment of groundwater used for drinking in the lower Ili-Balkhash basin, and although it relies on a limited number of samples, it nevertheless provides evidence of potentially serious groundwater contamination in the Balkhash District. It is thus imperative that additional and more detailed studies be undertaken.

A Stress-Associated Protein, PtSAP13, From Populus trichocarpa Provides Tolerance to Salt Stress

The growth and production of poplars are usually affected by unfavorable environmental conditions such as soil salinization. Thus, enhancing salt tolerance of poplars will promote their better adaptation to environmental stresses and improve their biomass production. Stress-associated proteins (SAPs) are a novel class of A20/AN1 zinc finger proteins that have been shown to confer plants' tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. However, the precise functions of SAP genes in poplars are still largely unknown. Here, the expression profiles of Populus trichocarpa SAPs in response to salt stress revealed that PtSAP13 with two AN1 domains was up-regulated dramatically during salt treatment. The β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining showed that PtSAP13 was accumulated dominantly in leaf and root, and the GUS signal was increased under salt condition. The Arabidopsis transgenic plants overexpressing PtSAP13 exhibited higher seed germination and better growth than wild-type (WT) plants under salt stress, demonstrating that overexpression of PtSAP13 increased salt tolerance. Higher activities of antioxidant enzymes were found in PtSAP13-overexpressing plants than in WT plants under salt stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed that some stress-related genes, including Glutathione peroxidase 8, NADP-malic enzyme 2, Response to ABA and Salt 1, WRKYs, Glutathione S-Transferase, and MYBs, were induced by salt in transgenic plants. Moreover, the pathways of flavonoid biosynthesis and metabolic processes, regulation of response to stress, response to ethylene, dioxygenase activity, glucosyltransferase activity, monooxygenase activity, and oxidoreductase activity were specially enriched in transgenic plants under salt condition. Taken together, our results demonstrate that PtSAP13 enhances salt tolerance through up-regulating the expression of stress-related genes and mediating multiple biological pathways.

Water Supply Challenges in Rural Areas: A Case Study from Central Kazakhstan

Rural water supplies have traditionally been overshadowed by urban ones. That must now change, as the Sustainable Development Goals calls for water for all. The objective of the paper is to assess the current access to and the perceived water quality in villages with various types of water supply. The survey was carried out during July–December 2017 in four villages in central Kazakhstan. Overall, 1369 randomly selected households were interviewed. The results revealed that even though villagers were provided with tap water, significant numbers used alternative sources. There were three reasons for this situation: residents’ doubts regarding the tap water quality; use of other sources out of habit; and availability of cheaper or free sources. Another problem concerned the volume of water consumption, which dropped sharply with decreased quality or inconvenience of sources used by households. Moreover, people gave a poor estimate to the quality and reliability of water from wells, open sources and tankered water. The paper suggests that as well decentralization of water management as monitoring of both water supply and water use are essential measures. There must be a tailor-made approach to each village for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of providing rural Kazakhstan with safe water.

Identifying the Key Information and Land Management Plans for Water Conservation under Dry Weather Conditions in the Border Areas of the Syr Darya River in Kazakhstan

Due to an increase in poorly planned anthropogenic activities, the water quality of several Asian big rivers is highly being affected. Although the assessment of heavy metal contents is vital to develop and design sustainable water management plans, several areas in Central Asia such as Kazakhstan do not have recent studies available that evaluate this situation. One representative example of this lack of information is the Syr Darya River. Thus, this study carried out the first approach to a water quality assessment in Kazakhstan’s Syr Darya River, where a massive expansion of irrigation canals, pastures in middle- and lower-reaches and an increase in industrialization and population have lowered its potential water capacity. To achieve this goal, various physicochemical parameters were analyzed for forty-three water samples along the river under dry weather conditions at 25 cm water depth. The obtained results were analyzed using standard methods (e.g., Multi N/C 2100 S analyzer or an atomic absorption spectrometer) and evaluated by multivariate techniques (cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NDMS)) and a heavy metal pollution index (HPI). In the CA, five cluster groups were obtained. It is important to remark that the first cluster consists of the highest number of water sampling points (8). The last cluster is made up of only one point, which shows the highest difference against the other sites in our model. The NDMS also confirmed that some specific points along the river are different. Five components were extracted from the PCA: (1) COD (chemical oxygen demand), Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni and Mn; (2) Cu, Cd, Ni and Co; (3) T (water temperature), pH and DO (dissolved oxygen); (4) T and Fe; and (5) COD and OC (organic carbon). The HPI showed very high values (279.9), which were locally confirmed in some hotspots close to the Aral Sea, industrialized areas and agricultural fields. Therefore, our results demonstrate that, under dry weather conditions, surface water resources could be mismanaged in the Syr Darya River in Kazakhstan in specific areas. For the future, considering the important role that agriculture and pasture play in the Kazakh economy, we insist upon the importance of applying water quality control measures applying nature-based solutions and efficient management plans. Moreover, we confirmed the necessity to conduct further research related to sampling under other weather situations such as wet and cold conditions, different river water depths and other locations considering specific land uses, for example, grazing, mining, railways or industries.

Health Risk in Urbanizing Regions: Examining the Nexus of Infrastructure, Hygiene and Health in Tashkent Province, Uzbekistan

Worldwide, development agencies have increased their investments in water supply and sanitation as a “powerful preventive medicine” to address infectious diseases. These interventions have focused on on-site technical interventions or social engineering approaches, emulating the result-based targets of the development goals. Against this backdrop, the study examines the following research question: What is the role of socio-cultural backgrounds, housing characteristics, and environmental hygiene practices in addressing water-transmitted diseases in the Tashkent province of Uzbekistan. In a country where public statistics and official maps are rarely accessible, and research is restrictive, the study carried out a household survey using open data kit (ODK) between July and October 2015 in Olmalik, an industrial district, and the Kibray urbanizing district in the province. The findings reveal that demographic factors, poor sanitation practices, housing characteristics, and social behaviors are key predictors of water-transmitted diseases in the two districts. In the industrial township, poor housing, larger household size, and poor excreta disposal habits increased the occurrence of diseases, while in urbanizing districts, higher household size, frequently eating out, and access to public taps significantly increased the occurrence of water-transmitted diseases. The study, which was carried out in a challenging institutional environment, highlights the need for Uzbekistan to focus their policies on environmental hygiene, demographic factors and social behavior as key interventions rather than merely on on-site drinking water and sanitation interventions.

Development and Validation of an On-Line Water Toxicity Sensor with Immobilized Luminescent Bacteria for On-Line Surface Water Monitoring

Surface water used for drinking water production is frequently monitored in The Netherlands using whole organism biomonitors, with for example Daphnia magna or Dreissena mussels, which respond to changes in the water quality. However, not all human-relevant toxic compounds can be detected by these biomonitors. Therefore, a new on-line biosensor has been developed, containing immobilized genetically modified bacteria, which respond to genotoxicity in the water by emitting luminescence. The performance of this sensor was tested under laboratory conditions, as well as under field conditions at a monitoring station along the river Meuse in The Netherlands. The sensor was robust and easy to clean, with inert materials, temperature control and nutrient feed for the reporter organisms. The bacteria were immobilized in sol-gel on either an optical fiber or a glass slide and then continuously exposed to water. Since the glass slide was more sensitive and robust, only this setup was used in the field. The sensor responded to spikes of genotoxic compounds in the water with a minimal detectable concentration of 0.01 mg/L mitomycin C in the laboratory and 0.1 mg/L mitomycin C in the field. With further optimization, which should include a reduction in daily maintenance, the sensor has the potential to become a useful addition to the currently available biomonitors.

Access to Drinking Water and Sanitation in Rural Kazakhstan

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require nations to ensure adequate water supply for all. For Kazakhstan, this means that rural areas will need much stronger attention as they have been rather neglected in efforts to comply with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This study aims to establish a baseline data concerning the current situation in villages that will need interventions according to the SDGs. The study was performed by means of questionnaires. The results should be seen as initial guidelines that can help to illuminate some of the uncounted challenges in future efforts to meet the SDG targets. As hardly any information exists about sanitation in rural Kazakhstan, the study essentially focuses on water services. The results show that 65% of rural dwellers want to connect and pay for the piped water supply. At the same time, about 80% have toilets outside their home. Consequently, the water program aiming at providing 80% of rural people with access to tap water from a centralized piped system will not be possible. However, by carefully managing the existing water supply and sanitation system in joint collaboration with the local users, significant progress can be made. The present results show the important first steps that need to be taken in this direction.