Groundwater resources of Uzbekistan: an environmental and operational overview

doi:10.2478/s13533-011-0062-y

Authors

Rakhmatullaev, Shavkat; Huneau, Frédéric; Kazbekov, Jusipbek; Celle-Jeanton, Hélène; Motelica-Heino, Mikael; Le Coustumer, Philippe; Jumanov, Jamoljon + 3

Contributors

Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Melioration; Géosciences hydrosciences matériaux constructions (Ghymac); Université Sciences et Technologies - Bordeaux 1 (UB); Géoressources & Environnement (ENSEGID); ENSEGID; International Water Management Institute; Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans (LMV); Observatoire de Physique du Globe de Clermont-Ferrand (OPGC); Université Blaise Pascal - Clermont-Ferrand 2 (UBP)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Blaise Pascal - Clermont-Ferrand 2 (UBP)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne (UJM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS); Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans - UMR7327 (ISTO); Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM) (BRGM)-Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers en région Centre (OSUC); Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris; Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de Paris; Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université d'Orléans (UO)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS); Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology; INTAS fellowship Nr. 04-83-3665 and by the French Foreign Ministry of Foreign Affairs via the Eiffel fellowship program No. 530909C. + 15

Publisher

HAL CCSD; Springer

Abstract

International audience ; As a result of the massive irrigation development during the Soviet Union era and intensive chemization of agriculture, the surface runoff quality has been degraded in this arid and endorheic region. Moreover hydraulically related groundwater has also been affected. Excessive irrigation has lead to land salinization, which now threatens the soil quality of significant areas where crop yields would be at risk in the future. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, institutional changes have been undertaken for the management of natural resources and water infrastructure. At present, underdeveloped and inadequate systems have been practiced with respect to groundwater use and management. This paper analyzes the present extent of groundwater resources with consideration to their reserves, quality evolution, and to technical, institutional and transboundary management practices in Uzbekistan.