Why There Was a Water Shortage in Bishkek and Protests Took Place, Explained the Mayor of the City

Евгения Комарова Politics
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Why there was a shortage of water in Bishkek earlier and protests took place, explained the city's mayor
The shortage of drinking water in Bishkek, which sparked protests among residents, was the subject of the mayor of the city, Aibek Junushaliev's address during his visit to the water intake "Orto-Alysh." According to the mayor, in 2022 and 2023, the city faced a deficit of clean water, especially in the spring and summer periods. Studies conducted to determine the causes of the situation did not lead to a quick resolution of the problem.

Photo of the Bishkek City Hall
In response, the city hall began active work on the restoration and cleaning of storage reservoirs. "This year we increased the number of such basins from eight to eleven, and another one is under construction," noted Junushaliev.

He explained that the storage basins are designed to collect water and naturally filter it through the soil, which helps replenish groundwater. This, in turn, increases the water reserves at the Orto-Alysh site, which supplies a large part of the capital.

Previously, the water deficit was felt from April to June, when the irrigation season began and the load on water resources increased. During this time, there was competition for water between the city and agriculture.


Now it is already March, and water is available. We started filling the reservoirs in advance before the start of agricultural work, which allows us to provide the city with the necessary resources.

Aibek Junushaliev

According to the mayor, the "Orto-Alysh" water intake meets about 40% of Bishkek's drinking water needs, highlighting the importance of maintaining infrastructure and storage basins for stable water supply in the capital.

Junushaliev also urged residents to treat water resources responsibly and use them sparingly, noting that providing the city with water requires significant effort and constant work from public services.
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