PM held a workshop on provision of population with drinking water

"Drinking Water" sectoral program for 2002-2010, including major issues of water supply to small towns and rural areas of the country, groundwater resources and their exploration, construction and reconstruction of facilities and water systems, tariff policy in the field of water supply were reviewed at the meeting.

According to the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture, the construction, reconstruction and repair of 13 288 km water pipes and drinking-water supply, improvement of water supply to more than 3,5 thousand villages with a total population of more than 5 million people (including 3.5 million rural inhabitants) were implemented within the program. The number of rural residents who used imported water was reduced (from 445.2 thousand in 2002 to 82.9 thousand in 2010).
According to the Ministry of Healthcare, the situation on drinking water safety in the central systems of water supply was stabilized, the proportion of samples of drinking water that did not meet the hygienic standards on microbiological and chemical indicators was significantly reduced.

Funds for the reconstruction of 308 drinking water facilities are allocated this year.

noted that it is necessary to enhance interagency coordination and made a decision to establish a working group on the implementation of the program of provision of population with drinking water, headed by Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Kuandyk Bishimbayev.

Mr. Massimov also noted that the implementation of the "Drinking water" program will be considered during the telephone conference in July. The Prime Minister also emphasized that during his working visits to regions of the country special attention will be paid to "the important issue of drinking water supply".