Geldi Myradov, UNDP/GEF project manager for "Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for Sustainable Water Management in Turkmenistan"

The construction of the nearly 15 km of gravity water pipeline Hivaabad-Kaahka was completed in 2018. The work was implemented within the framework of a joint project of the State Committee for Water Economy of Turkmenistan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with financial support of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The water pipeline has a number of environmental benefits.

First of all, the installation of a water pipeline made it possible to eliminate high filtration losses (up to 50%) of water through the bottom of the Layinsuv river. Our project laid a pipeline and, in some places, installed concrete slabs to reduce water filtration through the bottom of the river. Since setting the water pipeline into operation in May 2018, for more than a year of a water supply to the Kaahka’s water supply network, it allowed saving about 3.2 million cubic meters of water, which is approximately equal to the 10-month necessity for drinking water in Kaahka.

Secondly, the water pipeline reduced the consumption of fuel and energy in water wells in the amount of 768.4 thousand kW per hour, due to the shutdown of a significant number of pumps, that previously pumped water from underground sources for drinking needs of Kaahka. The installed water pipeline helps to reduce the loss of water for filtration and to increase the volume of river water for the needs of the water supply in Kaahka, as well as for crops cultivated in the Layinsuv River zone.

During the period of construction and warranty period, water specialists got acquainted in detail with the operating features of this complex structure. In the fall of 2019, the “Kaahkasuvhojalyk” (Kaahka Water Management) Production Association received the water pipeline to its balance. The engineering and technical specialists of the Etrap’s Water Management Department received for operation a modern hydraulic engineering structure, consisting of a water distribution structure equipped with water control and water metering devices, a pressure water pipeline and a system of special pressure damper structures to reduce the pressure of the water in the pipeline network to safe limits.

Summing up the advantages of the constructed water pipeline, it should be noted that according to the most moderate estimates, operation of the water pipeline for over the 15 years will prevent greenhouse gas emissions in the amount of 7.837 tons of CO2. Besides the fact that the water pipeline has environmental advantages, it also provides human development and promotion of the economic opportunities of the Kaahka’s people in the field of agriculture and water management.