Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

Figure 8.15. 
Lead 
historically has been 
widely used as a source 
of pipes for water supply 
thus affecting drinking 
water pollution level 
with lead

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184 
ENVIRONMENT, POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT:  THE CASE OF UZBEKISTAN
molluscs  –  dangerous  for  consumers,  as  it  is  shown  that  many 
species of molluscs in their bodies accumulate significant amounts 
of pathogenic viruses. It is believed that in a number of cases 
contaminated edible molluscs have caused localized epidemics of 
infectious hepatitis.
Of the industrial companies, the largest biological contamination 
in seas and oceans is created by insufficiently treated waste water 
from paper mills, sugar mills, meat processing and other food 
production companies, containing large amounts of organic sub-
stances subject to fermentation processes. In these processes, large 
amounts of oxygen are consumed, water turbidity increases, and it 
has a very negative overall impact on aquatic organisms. 
At major rivers water mass contamination is increasing down-
stream. Estuarines of Syr Darya and Amu Darya are characterized 
by increased index of water contamination over last years, however, 
river pollution during last years, is decreasing.
Exceeding the permitted usage of agrochemicals results in a 
high level of contamination of agricultural land and water resources. 
Industrial production is contaminating water with mainly heavy 
metals, phenolics and petroleum products. Industrial, household 
and municipal, manifold and drainage waters, discharged in rivers, 
contain many pollutants, concentration of which in average is 
2-10  times  greater  than  permissible  concentrations  for  household 
and  drinking  needs,  and  also  fishery  needs.  The  volumes  of 
contami nated waters of household discharged into rivers have been 
decreasing over the last years. However, the degree of purification is 
not sufficiently high. Low effectiveness of water treatment facilities 
(50-70% from set capacities) is a reason for high concentration of 
pollutants, discharged in surface waters and drops in the area. After 
purification waste waters have elevated concentrations of ammonia 
ions  and  nitrites.  A  particularly  difficult  situation  is  observed 
in  regions  with  a  deficit  of  water  resources  (Karakalpakstan, 
Khorezm,  Buchara)  and  in  regions  with  a  high  concentration  of 
industrial output (Tashkent, Fergan, Samarkand, Navoji industrial 
districts).  Approximately  1-5%  of  the  water  used  in  industry  is 
discharged without purification. Most rivers of the region in their 
lower and middle streams have an increased water mineralization: 
from  1-1.5  g/l  –  in  the  middle  stream,  up  to  2  g/l  and  more  in 
lower  stream.  In  the  lower  reaches  of  river  Amu  Darya  an  excess 
in mineralization and water hardness, also in sulfates, chlorides, 
phenolics and silica is permanently recorded. Water contamination 
with mercury and fluoride is approaching limit values.
The main water arteries of the Uzbekistan became almost unfit 
for the drinking water supply due to absence of systematic fresh water 
releases and discharges of waste water in river from irrigated soils 
Sources of water pollu‑
tion in Uzbekistan are:
 
Œ contamination as a 
result of agricultural 
activity;
 
Œ contamination as a 
result of industrial 
activity;
 
Œ contamination with 
household and 
municipal waste in 
urban and rural regions.

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8. WATER POLLUTION
 185
with excessive mineralization, polluted with pesticides and mineral 
fertilizers. The provision of the population with fresh drinking water 
is  particularly  important.  Consequently,  in  Karakalpakstan  fresh 
water supply is, on the average, 61.5%, while in Berunijskij region – 
36.3%, in Shumanijskij – 32.5%, in Amudarjinskij – 28.7%. In total, 
more than a third of population of the country is consuming an 
insufficient amount of fresh water according to the state standard.