Experts and representatives from across Central Asia gathered in Issyk-Kul for a regional seminar on sanitation, wastewater reuse and sludge management, focusing on practical solutions for water-stressed communities.
Held on 17-18 August, the seminar was organized by the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC), with the Kyrgyz State Technical University named after I. Razzakov, under the Blue Peace Central Asia (BPCA) project. It brought together specialists in water supply, sanitation, water quality, environmental regulation, public health and research from across the region.
Central Asia’s rural sanitation infrastructure faces significant challenges, including aging systems, limited wastewater treatment capacity and low access to centralized sewerage. In this context, participants discussed approaches that can reduce pressure on water resources through the safe reuse of treated wastewater and recovery of useful resources from sanitation systems.
A key focus was a working document on sanitation, wastewater reuse and fecal sludge management prepared by universities participating in the Community of Practice on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (CoP4WASH) under BPCA. Participants reviewed current practices, identified policy and regulatory gaps, and discussed opportunities to strengthen frameworks for safe and controlled wastewater reuse.
The seminar also provided a platform for regional knowledge exchange on decentralized wastewater treatment systems and the potential reuse of wastewater and sludge in agriculture. Through country discussions and group exercises, participants explored practical limitations and possible entry points for improving policies, standards and technical guidance.
The second day started with a field visit to wastewater treatment facilities in the Issyk-Kul region, including Balykchy Municipal Water Utility and local treatment facilities at the Kolumb and Karven Four Seasons recreation areas. The visits allowed participants to connect regional policy discussions with practical examples of wastewater treatment and decentralized systems.
The seminar concluded with a focus on next steps, including validating the working document and developing recommendations for updating policies, regulations and technical guidance to support the safe and controlled reuse of wastewater and management of sludge.
The discussions underscored the importance of combining technical solutions, evidence-based policies and regional cooperation to build more sustainable and resilient sanitation and water management systems across Central Asia.
