Investigating the necessity of water recycling and reuse of unconventional water in the context of water resources management: a case study of Uzbekistan
Annotatsiya
Water resources management under the circumstances of climate change and increasing pressure on natural resources, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, has become an urgent problem. Using Uzbekistan as a case study, this paper addresses reclaiming and recycling nonconventional water as a necessity under the paradigm of water resources management. Information was collected in this study through water source sampling, interviewing farmers and local managers, and studying available documents in three provinces of Fergana, Khorezm, and Bukhara. The findings reveal the high potential of nonconventional water resources, including treated wastewater, brackish water, and agricultural drainage, with a total volume of about 1330 million cubic meters per year. Water quality analysis shows that treated urban wastewater is largely within agricultural standards, and saline groundwater requires management and caution due to high salinity and sodium. However, there have been significant social and economic limitations, including farmers' health concerns and high initial investment, in implementing these solutions. Economic comparisons demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of wastewater treatment technologies compared to brackish water desalination. The results of this study stress the need for coordinated government policies, investment in infrastructure, and extension program implementation to overcome bottlenecks and achieve sustainable water management in Uzbekistan.