The situation with drinking water supply will stabilize within a month. The Vice Mayor of Bishkek, Zhyrgalbek Shamyraliev, told at a briefing.
He noted that a decrease in water level in the supply networks is registered in the capital, especially in the southern part of the city, and in some residential areas. «This problem occurs every year in summer when private houses start watering their plots, which leads to an increase in water consumption — about 500 liters per person with the rate of 170. And as a consequence, the pressure in the pipelines decreases,» he said.
Bishkek has 334 wells that it uses to extract water, the deputy mayor said.
«We now have a problem at the largest water intake, Orto-Alysh. Because of weather conditions, the water level in the rivers has dropped, and there was no water at all in Ala-Archa at the end of May. And if there is no water, the recharge basins also dry out and the static level of the water horizon decreases. To date it has dropped to 20 meters. In recent days, after the glaciers began to melt, water began to flow into the recharge basins and the static level stabilized. If it rises at least by 2 meters, the efficiency of the Orto-Alysh pumps will increase and the water supply level will increase by about 1,000 cubic meters. The water supply will be more stable for the entire city,» he said.
Zhyrgalbek Shamyraliev also told about measures which are taken by the city to improve water supply situation. In particular, it was decided to temporarily limit the work of car washes, saunas and swimming pools.
«In addition, Bishkekvodokanal and city services are transferring the pipeline on Aiylchiev Street, the work will be completed within two days. This will stabilize the pressure in the pipelines on Jaiyl Baatyr Street. Further we will transfer a kilometer-long pipe to the South-Western water intake. This will reduce the number of consumers getting water from Orto-Alysh,» he said.
The vice mayor added that construction of new wells at the water intakes is considered in the medium term, which will also reduce the load on Orto-Alysh water intake.
«If we carry out all the planned activities within a month, we will be able to steadily supply water,» he noted.
Zhyrgalbek Shamyraliev stressed that the citizens can also contribute to solving the problem — to use water rationally.
«Water is a resource, it is not endless, it also needs to be protected. If we use water rationally today, we can avoid water shortages,» he said.
