The authorities of Uzbekistan plan to intensify efforts for more rational use of water resources. Every year in March, an event called the 'Water Saving Month' will be held in the country, and the effectiveness of state structures will be assessed, among other things, based on drinking water saving indicators.
New standards for the rational consumption of water resources have been approved. According to an official decree, starting from January 1, 2027, indicators of drinking water savings and the presence of modern meters capable of remote data transmission will be taken into account when assessing the performance of heads of republican executive bodies and economic associations.
Organizations that do not equip their facilities with modern meters will be under the supervision of the General Prosecutor's Office. Furthermore, starting from April 1, 2027, unified tariffs for water supply and sewage services will be introduced across the country for budget-funded institutions. The implementation of separate accounting for production and distribution processes of drinking water is also provided for.
The water resource management system is preparing for serious digital modernization. It is planned that a unified electronic platform will become available starting in September 2026. This platform will contain information about all projects related to water infrastructure and will provide data on the current state of groundwater.
Uzbekistan has implemented additional steps aimed at improving the quality of water supply for the population and the functioning of sewage systems. These changes are enshrined in Presidential Decree No. UP-140, signed on July 24, 2026.
Starting September 1, all projects for the development of water supply and sewage infrastructure that are commissioned by Uzsuvtaminot JSC will be recorded on the electronic platform 'Automated Information System for Monitoring Program Implementation and Approving Address Lists'. Furthermore, to strengthen contractual relations between Uzsuvtaminot and system enterprises, contracts in highly specialized areas concerning training, professional development, and operation will be concluded directly.
New projects in the field of water supply and sewage are planned for implementation with the support of loans and grants from international financial institutions and foreign state financial organizations. Various financial mechanisms will be utilized for this purpose, including both advance and subsequent financing.
From January 1, 2027, in areas where centralized water supply is not economically viable or does not ensure cost recovery, services will be provided taking into account local conditions. Such measures include water delivery by specialized transport, the creation of water supply points, and the application of other solutions. On the same date, the authority to approve tariffs for water supply and sewage services will be transferred to the Interdepartmental Tariff Commission under the Cabinet of Ministers, which is part of efforts to improve tariff policy.
Additional funding of $1.3 billion has been planned in Uzbekistan for the further development of water supply and sewage infrastructure. The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, participated in a presentation dedicated to the development of drinking water supply and wastewater disposal systems.
In the coming years, state bodies aim to raise the coverage of centralized water supply to 90% and the urban sewage system to 80%. Over the past years, investments in this area have increased tenfold, reaching a volume of $2.7 billion. Thanks to these investments, the share of the population provided with centralized drinking water supply has grown from 63% in 2017 to nearly 83%.
During this period, 7.7 million residents gained access to water for the first time, the quality of supply improved for 11 million people, and 1.1 million residents were connected to the sewage system. The total length of constructed and repaired networks includes 39 thousand kilometers of water pipelines and 3,200 kilometers of sewage networks.
To achieve the set goals, additional funds of $1.3 billion need to be attracted. However, the president noted that the current system for preparing and implementing projects does not provide sufficient operational speed to solve accumulated problems. For example, 107 billion soms were recently allocated to address sewage problems in Andijan, and work has begun in the Sergeli district of Tashkent to install modern filters to combat unpleasant odors.
Special attention is paid to the project of supplying drinking water from the Tupalang reservoir. Water pipelines have already been extended to Termez, and by the end of the year, it is planned to supply Sherabadsky, Muzrabadsky, Angorsky, and Jarkurgansky districts of Surkhandarya region with water. At the meeting, the task was set to provide centralized water supply to another 513 mahallas and improve the water supply quality in 3,000 mahallas. Authorities also intend to replace 232 thousand water distribution columns with direct household connections to the networks.
By the end of the current year, projects totaling $600 million are expected to be implemented in the country. These projects include the construction of 1,600 kilometers of water pipelines and 387 kilometers of sewage networks, as well as the construction of 80 water supply facilities and 29 sewage facilities. As a result of this work, 310 thousand residents of 107 mahallas will receive centralized drinking water supply for the first time, and the water supply quality for 2.5 million people in 453 mahallas will significantly improve.
Furthermore, the president ordered the acceleration of the implementation of a $217 million project related to supplying drinking water from the Ghissarak reservoir in Kashkadarya region. After the completion of this project, residents of Kamashinsky, Guzarsky, and Karshinsky districts, as well as the city of Karshi itself, will be provided with quality water supply. It was also ordered to accelerate the signing of credit and grant agreements for projects in Fergana, Surkhandarya, and Jizzakh regions, and to complete negotiations with foreign partners on six projects totaling $317 million by September 1.
