Zaur Mikayilov: Access to clean drinking water is important for maintaining eco-balance

Access to clean drinking water is not only a basic human right but is also important for protecting public health and maintaining ecological balance, Zaur Mikayilov, chairman of the State Water Resources Agency (SWRA), said at the event "Fighting Climate Change: Sustainable Water Solutions and Stable Future in Azerbaijan" held within COP29, Report informs.

He noted that water is the foundation of sustainable development in all spheres: "Water resources are fundamental to agricultural productivity and support irrigation systems that ensure food security for millions of people. Additionally, water plays an important role in energy production and overall economic activity. Therefore, sustainable development efforts are inextricably linked to the availability, quality, and effective management of water resources."

The agency chairman noted that Azerbaijan has taken important steps in sustainable development and is one of the countries that submitted voluntary reports on Sustainable Development Goals: "For about 10 years, Azerbaijan has had a National Coordination Council for Sustainable Development. This long-term commitment demonstrates Azerbaijan's will to integrate sustainable water resource management into the national development strategy and serves as an example for other countries facing similar challenges."

Speaking about Azerbaijan's commitments to sustainable water management and climate resilience, the SWRA chairman noted that Azerbaijan has built ultrafiltration water treatment facilities at the Jeyranbatan reservoir, modern treatment facilities in Pirshagi, and implemented SCADA systems.

"The Caspian Sea water desalination initiative, which is Azerbaijan's first public-private partnership project, is a prime example of these efforts," he said.