By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Azemedia New Logo
  • Donation
  • Who we are
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Ecology
  • Culture
  • Diaspora
  • Interview
  • Science
  • Logistics-Transport
  • Gender
  • History
  • Defense
  • Karabakh
Aze.Media
Aa
Search
  • News
  • Economy
  • Ecology
  • Energy
  • Opinion
  • Culture
  • Gender
  • Interview
  • Science
  • Logistics-Transport
  • History
  • Defense
  • Karabakh
  • Diaspora
  • Who we are
Follow US
© 2021 Aze.Media – Daily Digest
Aze.Media > News > Ecology > Azerbaijan’s water services: Shifting focus from building infrastructure to building institutions
Ecology

Azerbaijan’s water services: Shifting focus from building infrastructure to building institutions

Azerbaijan celebrated Novruz last week, with festivities hailing water as a source and precursor of the re-birth of nature, and we were all reminded of how crucial water is in our lives.

AzeMedia
By AzeMedia Published April 7, 2022 6 Min Read
Az Water Blog Hero
Lake Göygöl in Azerbaijan

At the same time, on 22 March, the global water community commemorated World Water Day – an important occasion to remember that two billion people worldwide still do not have access to safe water and 3.6 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation services.

Global efforts demonstrate that building better water infrastructure alone is not enough. People also need resilient services, particularly in the context of climate change and increasing population growth. We cannot just fix the pipes – we must also fix the institutions that fix the pipes.

What does water mean for Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan’s climate varies from dry in the central and eastern parts of the country, to subtropical and humid in the southeast. Aside from the Caucasus mountains and the Lankaran lowland, the rest of the country gets scant rainfall. Because of this, the country’s agriculture relies heavily on irrigation, which creates a challenge for the country’s 10 million people, almost half of whom live in rural areas and depend on agriculture.

This is compounded by the fact that Azerbaijan’s three main ground water sources – the Kura, Araz and Samur rivers – originate outside the country and are heavily exposed to overuse and pollution from industries and municipalities in neighboring countries and within Azerbaijan. Since not all wastewater treatment facilities are properly functioning, untreated municipal wastewater is the largest source of pollution of the water basins.

Droughts are also common in Azerbaijan, particularly in the country’s arid central regions. There is strong evidence from recent years that water levels in Kura and Araz rivers, as well as in the reservoirs fed by them, have drastically decreased.

What can be done?

Azerbaijan has invested more than $3 billion during the last two decades on critical infrastructure, from irrigation canals to dams, to water supply and wastewater facilities. While access to water supply has increased through a massive investment program in more than 50 secondary cities, the quality of these services suffers from substandard asset management, weak corporate governance, insufficient operation, deficient billing systems, and poor collection rates.

This can be addressed by strengthening public participation and citizen involvement in the decision-making process in the water sector, coupled with capacity building for the managerial structure within the water institutions. Azerbaijan also needs to invest in efficient monitoring programs of water quantity and quality for reliable data.

Additionally, more attention needs to be given to policies and institutions which affect the quality of the water service.

Azerbaijan has an opportunity to create an environment that supports strong institutions and policies within the public sector that help deliver reliable services for communities. The establishment of the Azerbaijan Investment Holding (AIH) is a major step in the Government’s oversight of the performance of large state-owned utility entities, including in the water sector.

The Government of Azerbaijan should also consider shifting towards performance-based financing, whereby government subsidies may be linked to specific service performance indicators by the Azersu Water Utility. Opportunities also exist to strengthen Azersu’s corporate governance and customer accountability practices. To help achieve financial sustainability and overall cost recovery, more energy-efficient practices are possible, thereby contributing to a “greener” water and sanitation sector.

Finally, it is important to recognize that water and sanitation services exist in a broader water resource management framework. Building the capacity of the newly established Water Commission to ensure proper coordination, support water security planning, and provide a platform for stakeholder consultation will ensure that services are managed in a way that is sustainable and more resilient for all.

The World Bank is committed to working with Azerbaijan to improve water supply and sanitation services, which will help prevent pollution, reduce poverty, and improve Azerbaijanis’ lives.

Winston Yu

Co-authors: Pierrick Fraval, Smita Misra, Ranu Sinha, Zubedah Robinson, Hadji Huseynov

You Might Also Like

WB Forecast: Due to the Caspian Sea level drop, the operation of the Alat port will be at risk

Azerbaijan promoting UN green agenda

Azerbaijan discusses holding Armenia accountable for damage to nature during years of occupation

President Ilham Aliyev: Armenia has dealt a massive blow to our nature

Azerbaijani NGOs demand Armenia fulfill international environmental norms

AzeMedia April 7, 2022

New articles

Ots
OTS on track to become EU equivalent
Opinion November 30, 2023
Image 967934 11187414
Masdar’s 308MWp solar PV project in Azerbaijan begins operation
Energy November 30, 2023
Gaz3 2
Azerbaijan has sent more than 30 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe
Energy November 30, 2023
1681296348957
What is the reason for tensions in US-Azerbaijan relations?
Opinion November 29, 2023
Bildschirmfoto 2023 11 29 Um 13.34.33
Pro-Armenian lobbyists enjoy la dolce vita while Armenia is looking for new “backers”
Opinion November 29, 2023
Konfrans I Panel (1) (1)
The panel sessions were held within the international conference on “Qizilbash Heritage in Azerbaijan: in the footsteps of history”
History November 28, 2023
080423c8bd512aaac24e7d85c701d3359bae4b
Speaker of the Armenian Parliament: There is no longer a Karabakh issue, we support the integrity of Azerbaijan
News November 28, 2023
1585840780 3950057 1585840663 9313655406236125
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan called the ambassadors of the United States, Germany, and France on the carpet
News November 28, 2023
Flag,of,armenia,flag,of,azerbaijan,nagorno Karabakh,conflict
Azerbaijan and Armenia may sign a peace treaty by December 15, it was stated in Yerevan
News November 28, 2023
Alen Simonyan 07 04 23 1024x683
Alen Simonyan: Over time, if they wish, Azerbaijanis will be able to settle in Armenia
News November 28, 2023

You Might Also Like

Port Of Baku

WB Forecast: Due to the Caspian Sea level drop, the operation of the Alat port will be at risk

November 27, 2023 1 Min Read
Km1 Renewable Energies

Azerbaijan promoting UN green agenda

October 25, 2023 14 Min Read
Karabakh 4678495

Azerbaijan discusses holding Armenia accountable for damage to nature during years of occupation

August 5, 2023 2 Min Read
2e09f701 Bc5a 459b B136 28e74374c045 W1200 R1

President Ilham Aliyev: Armenia has dealt a massive blow to our nature

July 11, 2023 1 Min Read
131800

Azerbaijani NGOs demand Armenia fulfill international environmental norms

July 7, 2023 1 Min Read
Rasim 1536x975

Rasim Sattarzade: Armenia should have informed Azerbaijan

June 10, 2023 1 Min Read
Sarsang Reservoir Source Wikimedia Commons 1536x1152.jpeg

The Water Factor in the Karabakh Conflict

June 9, 2023 10 Min Read
Qht

Azerbaijani NGOs issue statement against Armenia’s project that will lead to new environmental disaster in Arazdayan

June 8, 2023 7 Min Read

Useful links

426082d1 A9e4 4ac5 95d4 4e84024eb314 Pojkz91103g6zqfh8kiacu662b2tn9znit7ssu9ekg
Ab65ed96 2f4a 4220 91ac F70a6daaf659 Pojkz67iflcc0wjkp1aencvsa5gq06ogif9cd0dl34
96e40a2b 5fed 4332 83c6 60e4a89fd4d0 Pojkz836t9ewo4gue23nscepgx7gfkvx6okbbkasqo
759bde00 A375 4fa1 Bedc F8e9580ceeca Pq8mvb9kwubqf6bcadpkq5mz16nayr162k3j2084cg
aze-media-logo-ag1

Aze.Media offers an independent and strategic insight on socio-cultural, political and economic life in Azerbaijan.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Cookies Policy

Email: editor@aze.media

© 2023 Aze.Media – Daily Digest

Removed from reading list

Undo
aze-media-logo1 aze-media-logo-ag1
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?