Azerbaijan is updating its strategy for the protection and management of its drinking water resources amidst water scarcity, one of the most serious ecological challenges of recent years.
The fact that over 70% of the country's water resources are formed by transboundary rivers has elevated the issue to the level of a national priority.
Within the framework of the water security policy implemented under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, innovative projects such as reducing losses, transitioning to modern irrigation systems, generating green energy, and desalinating seawater are coming to the forefront.
The construction of new reservoirs in the liberated territories within the framework of the "Great Return" program aims to secure Azerbaijan's water resources for future decades.
Regarding the issue, Milli Majlis member Rovshan Muradov told Modern.az in a statement that approximately 75% of the drinking water in the country comes from rivers originating in other countries:
“Our main water sources are the Kura, Aras, and Samur rivers. The Kura and Aras rivers originate in Turkey, while the Samur river enters Azerbaijan from the Republic of Dagestan in the Russian Federation.
We now have the opportunity to freely use the 25% of water resources that fall to the liberated territories. The proper distribution of dams built on rivers, ensuring no reduction in river waters flowing into the country, is our priority. For this purpose, intergovernmental commissions exist between states”.
The deputy noted that during the Armenian occupation, no rules or regulations were ensured. All wastewater from their copper mines and factories was discharged directly into the Aras River. Consequently, these waters mixed with the Kura via the Aras, and then flowed into the Caspian Sea:
The Milli Majlis member noted that precisely for this reason, the main goal of the state program is to eliminate these problems. However, this is not solely Azerbaijan's problem. The rivers flowing into the Caspian and the Caspian itself are a global problem:
“As relations develop, the solution to these problems will also become possible. The initialing of a peace agreement and the creation of an opportunity to live in a non-war environment are also important from the perspective of ecological security. I believe that future collaborations with Armenia and Georgia – be it in the energy, transport, or economic sectors – should be structured in a way that does not harm the overall ecological system”.
Rovshan Muradov stated that state programs are expected to be developed in the future regarding the issue of dams causing a reduction in water volume. This process will be implemented in stages.
Milli Majlis member Aydin Huseynov noted that although we currently live in a state of peace with Armenia, we have not yet transitioned to the stage of diplomatic relations:
“For many years, Armenia declared a water war against us. They discharged wastewater into the rivers flowing to us. The constructed dams have seriously affected the water volume. Of course, there are international conventions and obligations. One cannot approach it with the principle of 'If water passes through my territory, I can do whatever I want.'”
Ecologist Telman Zeynalov spoke to Modern.az regarding the strategy for using usable water.
He noted that building dams on high-volume rivers like the Kura and Aras is not correct. This is an entirely wrong project and is contrary to ecological balance:
“There are small rivers suitable for dam construction. Basins and water catchments should be created by combining 5-10 small rivers. This way, we would also regulate the network of rivers that are only a few hundred meters long. Despite their small size, there is a possibility that small rivers could combine and cause floods every year. Natural disasters must be prevented”.
The ecologist also touched upon a social problem, noting that some individuals in the country use their financial means to occupy hectares of land. They use underground waters solely for themselves, leaving the population without water.
