ANSO IPO of Green Aral Sea Science Initiative Launches a School Drinking Water Safety Project in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan

18 09, 2025

Recently, the International Program Office of ANSO Green Aral Sea Science Initiative (hereinafter referred to as the “ANSO IPO”) implemented a school drinking water safety project in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. High-efficiency water purification equipment was installed in three remote rural schools, significantly enhancing the safety of drinking water for local teachers and students. This initiative helped to effectively address the region’s longstanding challenges of drought and water scarcity.

Water purification equipment installed by ANSO IPO

The Republic of Karakalpakstan is located in western Uzbekistan. It is characterized by an arid climate and severe water scarcity. For many years, local schools have depended on groundwater or water drawn through long-distance pipelines. However, both sources are heavily salinized, resulting in poor taste and potential health risks.

Following on-site investigations and sample assessments conducted by the ANSO IPO, three schools in Shimbay District and Kegeyli District were selected as pilot sites for the installation of water purification equipment. The equipment uses advanced Chinese reverse osmosis and filtration technologies to effectively remove salts, impurities, and harmful substances from the water. As a result, previously undrinkable brackish water is transformed into clean and safe drinking water. With these installations, drinking water conditions in the schools have been fundamentally improved, allowing teachers and students to enjoy clean and safe drinking water. Mr. Tajetdinov Aybek, Head of Shimbay District, emphasized that the purification units have solved the critical challenge of providing safe drinking water in schools. Teachers and students at Shimbay District Primary School No. 31 now enjoy pleasant-tasting water, and more than 100 nearby households also come to the school to collect it.

A Appreciation Letter by the Head of Kegeyli Districts to XIEG

At the project acceptance ceremony, Qiao Jianfang, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography (XIEG), stated that the project reflects the mission of the ANSO IPO to promote sustainable development and livelihood projects in the Aral Sea region. It also marks a concrete step under the joint establishment of the “Joint Laboratory for Green Aral Sea Technology R&D and Demonstration” by XIEG and the International Innovation Center for the Aral Sea Basin. Looking ahead, the ANSO IPO will continue to mobilize multilateral efforts and foster broader participation in the comprehensive governance of the Aral Sea region. It will also advance more technological solutions for regional environmental improvement, helping local communities address environmental challenges.

The head of Shimbay District and project members tasted the drinking water together

Officials from the governments and education departments of Shimbay and Kegeyli Districts expressed their sincere appreciation for the project’s implementation. They noted that this pragmatic cooperation has significantly improved living conditions in remote areas and injected new momentum into regional sustainable development.

The ANSO IPO, hosted by XIEG, has long been committed to ecological and environmental research in the arid regions of Central Asia. It has previously carried out multiple collaborative projects with Uzbekistan in areas such as climate change, water resource management, and biodiversity conservation. This project is supported by the UNDP project "Application and Demonstration of Water Resource Utilization Technologies in the Aral Sea Basin". The implementation of this project further deepens the China-Uzbekistan partnership in science and technology, providing tangible benefits to local communities.