DUSHANBE, March 31, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The findings of the preliminary survey on the state of drinking water supply, disposal of water and solid waste management in settlements across the country, conducted by state unitary enterprise, Khojagii Manziliyu-Kommunali, in cooperation with the Agency for Statistics, were announced during the Tajikistan Water Supply and Sanitation Project (TajWSS) network meeting held in Dushanbe on March 31.

The event is dedicated to review aforementioned assessment in urban-type and rural communities of the country.  The main objective of the meeting is to draw attention of high ranking officials from relevant ministries and institutions of the Tajik government, international non-government and donor organizations, civil society, private sector and mass media to the challenges and possible solutions for effective delivery of drinking water supply and sanitation.

The state unitary enterprise, Khojagii Manziliyu-Kommunali, and the Agency for Statistics launched an informal survey to collect basic information about the state of water supply and wastewater service in human settlements in Tajikistan in December 2010.  This work was co-financed by SDC-funded TajWSS Project implemented by Oxfam GB and the USAID funded Local Development Initiative Project.

The Khojagii Manziliyu-Kommunali director Alimurod Taghoymurodov shared the survey results and quantitative review of the current situation on water supply and wastewater service in the country.

According to him, more than 50 percent of Tajikistan’s population does not have access to the drinking water supply system.  “The findings of the survey show that only 3.7 million people, or 48 percent of the country’s population, have access to the dinking water supply system, while more than 3.8 million people do not have access to the system, Taghoymurodov said, noting that the drinking water supply system of the country has urgent needs in rehabilitation.

“In urban-type communities, 68 percent of the drinking water supply system is in good order, while in rural communities only 40 percent,” said the Khojagii Manziliyu-Kommunali director.  “Some 7 percent of the drinking water supply system in the urban-type communities and 16 percent of the system in rural communities operate partially, while 25 percent of the system in the cities and 16 percent of the system in rural communities are not in operation.”