OSCE supports water quality monitoring in the Syrdarya River Basin

Water is essential for public health, food security, and community well-being. Regular water monitoring helps track changes in its quality, identify pollutants and inform evidence-based decisions to protect the environment.

The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan supports monitoring of transboundary watercourses of the Syrdarya River Basin in close co-operation with the National Center for Environmental Monitoring.

The work examines the chemical composition of surface water and bottom sediments, helping specialists assess potential pollution from upstream mining and industrial waste, as well as other contamination sources.

“We have been supporting our national partners for several years in monitoring water quality and pollution levels in the Syrdarya River Basin”, said Ambassador Antti Karttunen, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan. “Water and natural resources do not recognize borders. Our national partners work closely with their counterparts in neighbouring countries and share data collected through OSCE-supported monitoring. This promotes transparency and helps identify solutions to shared environmental challenges”.

As Zafar Kayumov, First Deputy Head of the National Center for Environmental Monitoring, noted, cooperation with the OSCE over the years has helped strengthen national capacities for environmental analysis. The findings provide an evidence base for tracking pollution trends, assessing potential risks to people and ecosystems, and informing environmental decision-making.

By continuing to support water monitoring activities and cross-border data-sharing, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan helps national partners identify emerging environmental risks, supports the sustainable management of shared water resources, and contributes to environmental security.

UzA