A project to protect water resources from accidental pollution has been launched in Uzbekistan

A large-scale project on water resources protection and pollution prevention in the context of climate change was launched in Tashkent — “Strengthening Actions in Uzbekistan on Water and Sanitation and Protection of Water Resources from Accidental Pollution in the Context of Climate Change”. The goal of the project is to strengthen cooperation between the departments of Uzbekistan to ensure the safety of water resources and hazardous waste storage facilities, reduce disaster risks, as well as strengthen management and build capacity in the field of water supply and sanitation. The project is being implemented with the support of the UNECE and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The first meeting of the Interdepartmental Working Group was held in Tashkent. Measures to prevent emergencies and accidental water pollution, industrial safety and the safety of tailings (toxic and other hazardous waste) were discussed, and the group's work plan for 2024-2025 was approved.

This is a joint project of two multilateral environmental agreements - the UNECE-WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health and the UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents.

Uzbekistan became the first country in Central Asia to join the Protocol on Water and Health in 2023.

The project focuses on increasing resilience to the effects of climate change, facilitating transboundary cooperation and promoting regional exchange. The plans include developing and implementing measures to improve the safety of tailings facilities and reduce the risks of industrial accidents associated with leaks of hazardous substances. It is important to note the relevance of the tasks set for Uzbekistan, whose mining industry is associated with increased environmental risks.

Expected results: - Improving the quality of water resources, which directly affects human health. - Improving the level of environmental safety, which is important for the sustainable development of the country. - Protecting the environment from industrial pollution, especially in the context of an increasing number of industrial facilities. - Strengthening national and regional coordination, which will more effectively address issues related to the safety of water resources and waste.

It is also planned to prepare a roadmap for Uzbekistan's accession to the Industrial Accidents Convention, which will strengthen measures to prevent man-made disasters and reduce environmental risks. In addition, work is planned in the Syr Darya basin, as well as an analysis of the situation and the development of target indicators in the field of water, sanitation, hygiene and health.

The participants of the Interdepartmental Working Group went to the tailings dam of the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Plant. Here they got acquainted with another project being implemented in the country: to strengthen the safety of tailings dams and prevent accidental water pollution in Uzbekistan and beyond in Central Asia. It is being implemented within the framework of the UNECE Industrial Accidents Convention with the financial support of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. The trip provided an opportunity to study the UNECE Safety Guidelines and Best Practices for Tailings Management Facilities (TMF) and the corresponding methodology. For the attention of readers: see additional information on the safety of tailings dams at the link: https://youtu.be/RQ9NF6TsAvI Irina SAIDOVA.

Based on materials from the website sreda.uz