USAID Launches Metering System For Improved Water Management In Turkmenistan

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 2, 2024. Today, on the banks of the Karakum River near Ashgabat, USAID and the State Committee for Water Resources organized the grand opening of a new metering system to measure water flow on this important waterway.  The system will provide real-time data to the State Committee for Water Resources, enabling the agency to plan for more accurate water allocations to agriculture, households, and industry.

The system was installed by Bosfor Public Association in Ashgabat, who received a grant from USAID Central Asia’s Regional Water and Vulnerable Environment Activity, as a means to provide Turkmenistan with a powerful tool to sustain water availability and build climate resilience. 

Projections from the World Bank suggest that climate change impacts across the region could result in a water reduction of 25% during July and August for the tributaries of the Amu Darya River that flow into Turkmenistan.  This reduction would cause major hardships for the country’s drinking water supply and wheat and cotton production.  In this context, the new water metering system will provide the Government of Turkmenistan with valuable information about flow rates and water withdrawals on the Karakum River, all captured in a software program for easy visualization of data.  With this data, the government will be better able to provide farmers with the precise amount of water needed for optimal crop growth, while cities and communities will benefit from a more stable and efficient water supply, reaching every household and business. 

The U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Matthew Klimow, took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony along with representatives from the State Committee on Water Resources, stating “I am deeply grateful to the Government of Turkmenistan for its cooperation with USAID on this project to install water meters along the Karakum River.  This technological innovation will improve the country’s ability to manage water resources for generations to come,” said Ambassador Klimow.

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USAID’s Regional Water and Vulnerable Environment activity is focused on strengthening regional capacity to manage shared water resources and mitigating environmental risks in the Syr Darya and Amu Darya river basins. 

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USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results.  USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience.  For more information, visit: https://www.usaid.gov/central-asia-regional and USAID’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/USAIDCentralAsia.