TARAZ. On August 2, the first water training of the five planned modules on basin planning for integrated water resources management (IWRM) was held on the Kazakhstan part of the Kurkureusu river. The event was supported by joint CAREC-USAID project Smart Waters. Representatives of the Small Basin Councils of the river Kurkureusu (Kazakhstan part) and experts participated at the event.
This event was held as part of the 3rd and 4th component of the of the Smart Waters project, which is IWRM Promotion & Support and Basin Planning will. IWRM Promotion & Support component is focused on a wider acceptance and use of key IWRM principles on all levels of water management and Basin Planning component aims to help to introduce long-term planning in Central Asia and Afghanistan on the river basin level.
During the seminar the following topics were discussed:
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Principles of IWRM. World practice of introduction of IWRM principles;
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Integrated schemes for the use of water resources and basin plans, and their difference;
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The legislative basis for basin planning and management;
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Possibilities of application of IWRM principles within the framework of the existing water management system;
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The role of basin organizations in the development and implementation of basin plans. The role of basin councils in the implementation of IWRM plans;
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Benefits of implementing an integrated management and basin planning system.
After the educational part of the event, SBC members proposed possible pilot projects on implementing IWRM. Mr Arabkhan Zapparov, the mayor of Aktobe village suggested water supply for Zhana-Talap village with the population of 900 people. Mr Zharylkasym Tazhikhan, the head of Zhana-Talap farm and chairman of the SBC suggested few projects: plumbing from plastic pipes (length - 900m) for water supply to the sprinkler system, the introduction of water-saving technology on an area of 50 hectares. Speakers underlined that there is a necessity to purchase plastic pipes with the support of the Smart Waters project expenses. Local residents take to perform the rest of the work themselves.
At the end of the training, the participants noted that in Zhambyl region there is a water deficit and it is necessary to introduce inexpensive but effective water-saving technologies for the local population. Therefore SBC is interested in an additional training on the resource-saving technologies and efficient methods of water use.
Smart Waters project is implemented by CAREC with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development USAID during the period 2015-2020. The overall objective of the project is to enhance regional cooperation on shared water resources. Specifically, Smart Waters addresses the knowledge dis-lock in the region in water sector, builds working relations among water managers and specialists, and demonstrates the potential of the basin management approach and cooperation with the academia.
