On 6 February a meeting of Mr. Talant Baikishiev, Deputy Director of Oshvodokanal, with representatives of pilot districts of Phase II of Osh Water and Wastewater Rehabilitation Project, financed by the EBRD and the European Union.
Representatives of almost all Quarter Committees of Municipal Territorial Unit (MTU) Amir-Temur, Dostuk residential neighbourhood and Ak-Tilek residential neighbourhood participated in the meeting.
Mr. Baikishiev presented experience of Turan neighbourhood, which was piloted in Phase I of the Project and were water meters were installed during that Phase.
It is planned that during Phase II about 9700 water meters will be installed in the three pilot districts with financing of EBRD loan and EC grant. As before, it is envisaged to install water meters in individual for each household’s wells. Oshvodokanal purchases water meters with a radio module for each household individually. It is reliable quality equipment, information from which can be read at a distance with no need to open wells. More to that, there every radio module is equipped with an integral antenna, that transmits information wirelessly, and thus operators will not need to enter each household to read water meters.
Water meters will be installed in ferroconcrete wells – vertical hollow frames that consist of strengthened manhole ring, head and cover. To secure leak tightness, the frame will be strengthened by concrete, besides it will be installed in such a way so that to be 15 to 20 cm above the ground.
Active support by Quarter Committees is paramount for success of installation works as they will be the ones who will be explaining and promoting water meters among residents of their quarters. It is also important to note that households should already start to decide on the well’s location in their yards. Installation works will be financed by the Project. It is envisaged that 4 meters of water lines to the well and from the well to the house will be financed by the Project too, distances above the 4 meters will have to be paid for by households themselves. Costs of asphalt renovation will be covered by the Project.
It is planned that installation works will start in spring 2019, all works should be finished by end 2020. Works will start in the three pilots simultaneously. Water meters will be installed in the existing, commissioned houses, owners of houses under construction or not-yet-commissioned will have to have water meters installed at their own expense.
Residents need to be aware that water will be charged at consumption. If nobody lives in a house no water consumption will be recorded by the water meter. In the future water will be charged at the tariff of KGS 5,42 per 1 cubic meter (1 m3=1000 liters) of water.
The meeting was held in a friendly proactive way, Quarter Committees representatives asked a lot of questions. Oshvodokanal expects to carry out installation works jointly and successfully!