Cleaner water and better sanitation for Naryn

Naryn is a high-altitude town in the centre of the Kyrgyz Republic. Located around 2,000 metres above sea level in the valley of the Naryn River, it is an important transport hub on the road to the Chinese border.

Home to around 42,000 people, Naryn is known for its stunning mountain landscapes, strong nomadic traditions and horses. Visitors can experience the local culture by visiting historic Silk Road monuments, such as Tash Rabat, and tasting traditional fermented mare’s milk (kymyz) during the summer season.

Despite its importance as a tourist destination and transport hub, Naryn had long struggled with ageing water and wastewater infrastructure. Old pipelines, outdated equipment and high-water losses affected the reliability of services. Winters in Naryn can be severe, with temperatures dropping to around -25°C. In such conditions, reliable water and sanitation are not simply a matter of convenience but an essential part of everyday life.

Wastewater services posed an even greater challenge. Only around 22 per cent of residents were connected to the sewerage network, while many households still relied on outdoor toilets or septic tanks. During the summer months, unpleasant smells often came from septic tanks, and, in some cases, wastewater discharged into the streets. Some households release wastewater into the river, leading residents to worry about water pollution and potential risks to public health.

To address these challenges, the EBRD helped to rehabilitate more than 20 km of the water supply network and expand wastewater infrastructure across the town, improving service reliability, protecting the environment and enhancing living conditions for thousands of residents.

“In the past, we didn’t always have clean drinking water at home, which created significant challenges for our family,” says Ermek Mukambetov, a Naryn resident.

“Today, we have access to clean water without interruption. This has greatly improved our living conditions and made our daily lives so much easier. I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone involved in bringing such a beneficial project to life.”

The rehabilitation of the water supply system is almost complete, with only the installation of household water meters remaining. The project, which is supported by Switzerland and the European Union (EU), will also upgrade more than 12 km of sewerage networks. As a result, the number of people benefiting from improved wastewater services will double, from around 10,000 to 20,000 residents.

“Our water and wastewater project has enabled us to connect 1,000 households to the new water network and, today, around 90 per cent of the population has access to water,” says Aibek Orozakunov, Director of the Naryn water municipal company.

“We hope that the new wastewater facilities will eventually serve around 70 per cent of the population, as well as schools, hospitals and other public facilities. We are also planning to install 4,000 water meters in the near future.”

From cities to smaller communities, investment in water infrastructure is making a difference across the Kyrgyz Republic. Through 33 projects in 28 municipalities and all seven regions, €197 million in financing and grants is helping to bring safe drinking water to around 3 million people, or about 40 per cent of the population.