Azerbaijan implementing a strategy to ensure drinking water safety

In order to improve the quality of drinking water supplied to the population, the government of Azerbaijan has begun implementing a special strategy.

"Under the strategy being implemented, Azerbaijan will be able to fully clean up the transboundary Kura River, which is being polluted on the territory of Armenia and Georgia, and ensure its water security," said Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Huseyngulu Bagirov.
On average, 350 million m3 of polluted water flows into the Kura River basin from the territory of Armenia every year, and 330 million m3 from the territory of Georgia. As a result, the river is excessively polluted with heavy metals, phenols, petroleum products and other harmful substances. About 70% of Azerbaijan's population uses Kura water as drinking water.

According to the minister, two laboratories operating on the border with Georgia and Armenia prepare a bulletin on the composition of the Kura's water every ten days. In addition, in accordance with the presidential order "On improving the supply of ecologically clean water to the population and certain related measures," implementation of a programme has begun.
"Water treatment facilities meeting international [standards] have been installed in 50 residential areas that use water from the Kura and Araz rivers," the minister said.
According to Bagirov, by the end of the year the installation of water treatment facilities will be completed in 50 residential areas covering another 112 thousand people.
"The tender process for installing new treatment facilities is nearing completion. American, Canadian, Israeli, Turkish and Japanese companies are showing great interest in the tender. Once the programme covering another 470 thousand people is completed within the next 2 years, the water used by 700 thousand people will in future be of much higher quality than Kura water," the Minister of Ecology added.

Source: news.trend.az