OSCE promotes water quality in transboundary Chu-Talas River Basin

The sixth meeting of the Working Group on environmental protection under the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Chu-Talas Water Commission took place on 16 November 2018 in Bishkek. The meeting was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek in close co-operation with the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Chu-Talas Water Commission.

Some 20 water specialists from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan discussed the results of laboratory water quality assessments conducted in the transboundary Chu-Talas river basin by both countries with the support of the OSCE field operations in Astana and Bishkek. The participants shared opinions on how to harmonize approaches to assessing water quality and discussed opportunities for future collaboration.

In April, June and October, the Office supported the research of Kazakhstan’s Hydro-Meteorological Centre’s territorial unit which analysed water samples at the Chu-Talas river basin in the Zhambyl region, covering16 different sites and conducting 17 different tests to identify possible contaminants. Based on the laboratory results, a national expert will produce a final report on water quality in the basin, which will be shared as part of a data exchange initiative between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

The Chu-Talas Water Commission promotes bilateral co-operation between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and aims to improve access to information by involving stakeholders in the process of river management and promoting activities for the protection of water ecosystems.

The event is part of the both Offices’ multi-year efforts to raise awareness and build capacity of state institutions in the area of water governance and to contribute to the transboundary dialogue on managing water resources.