Water conservation: rainwater reuse project launched in Turkmenistan
The project office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan and the Kazakhstan Institute of Ecological Research of Central Asia (CAIER) have begun preparing a joint project on the introduction of rainwater harvesting and reuse systems. As reported on the official CAREC website, the city of Ashgabat and the "Awaza" National Tourist Zone have been chosen as the main sites for these pilot projects.
The main goal of this initiative is to adapt nature-based engineering solutions to the arid climatic conditions of the region. Rainwater collected from specially designed systems will be filtered and stored in dedicated reservoirs before being directed to irrigate city parks and green areas. This will help reduce the burden on primary freshwater sources.
Kazakhstan's CAIER institute has been conducting scientific research in this field and studying the quality of atmospheric precipitation since 2013. Combining the research experience of the two parties will make it possible to prepare necessary meteorological and engineering calculations, ranging from precipitation volumes to creating green spaces, as well as developing a feasibility study.
In the near future, the parties plan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding and prepare a joint application to attract international financial resources through international financial organizations, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The creation of demonstration facilities in Ashgabat and on the Caspian Sea coast will be the first stage in the widespread deployment of this technology throughout Turkmenistan in the future.
