Pilot Rainwater Harvesting Systems Are Planned for Ashgabat and Avaza
ECOLOGY, July 22 | ORIENT. The project office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in Turkmenistan and the Central Asian Institute of Environmental Research (CAIER, Kazakhstan) have begun developing a joint project to implement rainwater collection and reuse systems. According to CAREC's official website, Ashgabat and the Avaza National Tourist Zone have been selected as the base sites for the first pilot projects.
The initiative focuses on adapting nature-oriented engineering solutions to the region's arid climate. Rainwater collected from special surfaces and roofing systems, after filtration and storage in reservoirs, will be used to irrigate urban parks and green spaces, reducing pressure on primary freshwater sources.
The Kazakhstani CAIER Institute has been conducting research and development on precipitation quality in this area since 2013. Combining their research expertise with CAREC's experience will enable the development of a feasibility study and climate calculations, ranging from precipitation volumes to terrain.
The parties intend to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation in the near future and submit a joint application for international financing, including from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The establishment of demonstration facilities in Ashgabat and on the Caspian coast will be the first stage before the potential scaling of the technology throughout Turkmenistan.
