5.2.4 opinion of kazakhstan’s residents on the quality of ... · pdf file60 undp project...

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FINDINGS OF SOCIAL SURVEY ON EVALUATION OF THE SAFE ACCESS OF THE POPULATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF

KAZAKHSTAN TO DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

5.2.4 opinion of Kazakhstan’s residents on the Quality of Drinking Water

The quality of the water that people have access to is clearly of paramount importance, not only in terms of the actual quality as measured by its chemical, biological, nutrient, and aesthetic qualities, but also in terms of people’s perception of this water’s quality . Over 40% of respondents asserted that there is a problem with the quality of drinking water . This figure increases for people connected to a CWSS (44%) .

table 5.5. the percentage of respondents who believe that they have problems with water quality, with and without a piped water supply in their homes

Oblast Connected to a CWSS Not connected to a CWSS

City of Astana 55 .74 71 .4�

Akmola 55 .17 47 .76

Aktobe �5 .00 �4 .84

Atyrau �7 .56 84 .�8

East Kazakhstan �9 .49 4� .81

Zhambyl 14 .69 �7 .66

West Kazakhstan 57 .14 �0 .66

Karaganda 65 .57 �6 .1�

Kostanai 49 .5� �� .�0

Kyzylorda 50 .�0 �7 .68

Mangystau 69 .90 61 .�9

Pavlodar �6 .�� 4 .7�

North Kazakhstan 75 .�� 51 .�4

South Kazakhstan �� .99 49 .74

Almaty �� .01 44 .70

City of Almaty �6 .08 �0 .00

Although a smaller percentage of the surveyed people without a piped water supply in their homes believed that water quality was an issue, it was clear from the findings from the questionnaire survey that water from certain sources was more likely to be perceived as having problems with quality . For example, the vast majority of the small but significant number of people who take their water from open sources such as communal reservoirs, aryks, and springs and lakes were concerned about water quality, as were a large number of people who take their water from individual open wells and wells with sucker rod pumps (Table 5 .5) .

The issue of water quality was reviewed in detail during focus-groups and interviews . Respondents expressed strong concern about water quality . In city regions, only people of the cities of Taraz and Shymkent appeared to be satisfied with their water’s quality .

‘Water is normal. We sometimes boil it, but usually it’s good. We may even drink tap water.’

(Focus group participant, City of Taraz)

More than 40% of respondents believe there is a problem with the quality of their water.

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UNDP ProjectNational Plan for Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Efficiency in Kazakhstan

ACCEss to DRINKINg WAtER AND sANItAtIoN IN thE REPUblIC of KAzAKhstAN

‘… We are used to our water and drink raw water easily.’(Focus group participant, City of Shymkent)

At the same time, most urban residents find water unsafe .

‘I think that water is good for washing and cleaning, but we don’t take the risk of using it for drinking.’

(Male respondent, City of Rudniy)

‘Water is unsafe. We boil it.’(Female respondent, City of Astana)

‘Water is unsafe. It should be treated and boiled. We do not drink tap water, as it is too chlorinated.’

(Female respondent, City of Ust-Kamenogorsk)

Notably, respondents from cities not connected to a CWSS evaluate water quality in a more positive way than those connected to a CWSS .

To illustrate, respondents from rural areas of West Kazakhstan noted:

‘The water in the water tower is very clean, nearly without additives. It is tasty and transparent. We may drink such water without boiling it.’

(Female respondent, settlement, West Kazakhstan)

‘It is hazardous to drink water from the river without pre-treatment. Water from wells or delivered water should always be treated.’


‘Water quality is the second most important issue in our settlement (after roads). Many people constantly suffer from stomach ache; there are frequent incidents of poisoning. People often get sick with jaundice.’


The main water quality issues highlighted by the survey included coloration of the water, dirty water containing sediment, and water leaving stains on the dishes . Nearly a third of the respondents who had problems with water quality highlighted taste as a problem; 14% of the respondents who considered water quality to be an issue cited the main problem as being the fact that the water is salty . (Figure 5 .6)

The issues of water quality vary according to the type of water supply source . A considerable number of respondents with individual water supply sources reported water saltiness . For respondents who use water from open sources, the residue is the issue .

The findings of the questionnaire on water quality were reconfirmed during interviews and group discussions . Residents of the city of Uralsk, for instance, stated that water quality in the city is ‘disastrous’ and water is ‘…totally unfit for drinking . It is rusty .’ In the City of Petropavlovsk it was stated that ‘water quality leaves much to be desired . Sometimes water smells bad .’

Moreover, for some respondents there has been a notable decline in water quality in recent years .

‘…until 12 years ago the water was perfect. Now it is yellow and dirty.’ (Male interviewee, Uralsk City)

‘The water is salty and hard and contaminated because of the obsolete water pipeline system.’

(Male interviewee, rural Akmola).

Figure 5 .6 . Major issues of water quality across Kazakhstan (respondents’ views) (number of respondents = �,56�)

Yellow waterWater with sedimentsStrange odourBad smellResidue_ on dishesWater too saltyDKOther

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It is evident that water quality is an issue for many people, both in rural and urban settlements . While many simply accept the fact that water quality is poor, for some the fact that the government and private sector can invest in new buildings but not improve the water supply is a mystery . As one interviewee in Astana comments:

‘Low water quality is an issue in our city. I would like to believe that the wonderful architecture could be supplemented by good quality drinking water.’

(Male interviewee, Astana City)

Water treatment for drinkingIn Kazakhstan, 46% of the population treats water prior to drinking . Over 60% of interviewees in the oblasts of Karaganda, West Kazakhstan, Kostanai, and the city of Astana treat water prior to use . This figure is lower in Aktubinsk, East Kazakhstan, and South Kazakhstan oblasts (40%) with �4% in Zhambyl oblast .

Urban water users treat water more often . For example, in the city of Astana over 65% of residents treat water, while this indicator comes to 46% in towns . Residents of rural settlements treat water less often (�9%) .

There is a clear difference between those residents who are connected to a CWSS and those who are not . Fifty-three percent of residents connected to a CWSS purify water, and the same is done by 46% of residents without connections . Of people using public reservoirs or rivers and ditches, 8�% purify water . People do not purify water from individual wells .

Poor water quality and health concerns were the main reasons cited for treating drinking water . By far the most common reason was the fact that the water is opaque; a significant number of people highlighted the fact that they need to treat their drinking water to remove sediment . Approximately �5% of the households that treat their water cite health-related reasons, with issues of taste also being important .

Boiling water is the most widespread method of purifying water for drinking, and over 80% boil water . Another 1�% let water settle, but most do both (Figure 5 .7)

A small number of respondents filter their water, with the vast majority of these people being in the higher income bracket . Many people, however, complain that filters do not work for long .

‘… a schungite filter costs 1000 tenge, and it stopped working after three months so we don’t use it.’

(Female interviewee, Rudny City).

‘We buy filters that cost 7000 tenge or more. They stop working quickly so distilling or boiling water is inevitable.’

(Female interviewee, Aksai City).

‘We used to buy the Russian filter ‘Rodnichok’. However, now they are not sold. Therefore, we just pass the water through cotton wool. Everyone does this.’

(Focus Group participant, Aktau City).

The time spent on boiling water varies from 10 minutes to several hours a day . Atyrau residents boil water the longest — for 6� minutes . Boiling assumes extra time and money .

Approximately 46% of the surveyed population treats water before drinking it.

Figure 5 .7 Major methods of water treatment (number of respondents=�,�40)

BoilingDefecationFilteringOther

6�



‘…We boil water and spend on electrical energy.’(Female respondent, city of Zheskazgan)

‘My wife boils water. We did not count the related costs but we know that we spend a lot on gas and electricity.’

(Male respondent, City of Astana)

‘We boil water and pay for electrical energy.’(Female respondent, rural settlement, East Kazakhstan oblast)

Purchase of bottled waterBuying bottled water for drinking can be another indicator of whether water quality is an issue, and in the survey as a whole c . 4�% of the households purchased bottled water . The majority of respondents (45%) commented that they drink bottled water just like any other non-alcoholic beverage . A significant number of respondents, however, stated issues of water quality and safety, i .e ., health safety, as the reason for buying bottled water . This issue was raised by numerous interviewees, many of whom routinely purchase bottled water .

‘We regularly buy a 20-liter bottle …. to prevent stomach problems and kidney diseases. We pay about 300 tenge a bottle, which is enough for one day.’

(Male interviewee, Aksai City)

‘We never drink water from the tap. We buy huge bottles of water for drinking….Big bottles cost 450 tenge.’

(Focus group participant, Petropavlovsk City)

‘We buy mineral water all the time because it is dangerous to drink tapped water as it is chlorinated.’

(Female interviewee, Ust-Kamenogorsk City)

The price issue was mentioned by a number of respondents; some said they could not afford to buy water .

‘We can buy only 1-2 bottles (20L) a week and only for drinking-if we want to drink clean and tasty water. This costs us 600-800 tenge a week.’

(Female respondent, rural settlement, West Kazakhstan)

The issue of cost was mentioned by a number of interviewees, with some people commenting that they simply could not afford to buy water .

‘We can afford to buy only 1 to 2 bottles (20 liters) a week, and only to drink it when we want pure and tasty water. It cost us about 600-800 tenge a week.’

(Female interviewee, rural West Kazakhstan).

In a number of regions, in particular the city of Atyrau (68%), West Kazakhstan oblast (57%), Karaganda (64%), and Kyzylorda (75%), water quality and sanitary conditions are the primary reasons for buying bottled water .

In most cases, (56%) people buy 1 .5 L bottles of water . On average, households buy a bottle per person each week . The price per bottle varies from �5 tenge to 75 tenge; the average price is 50 tenge per bottle . Over a year, people pay some �,500 tenge per person for bottled water .

The survey ascertained that there is a connection between the demand in bottled water and people’s views on the fitness of water for drinking . During

Over 40% of households regularly buy bottled water.

Bulandinsky settlement, Akmola oblast

6�



the questionnaire, respondents were asked to evaluate the water in their region regarding its fitness for drinking, cooking, washing, and personal hygiene . Slightly over �7% of respondents believe that water in their region is fully fit to drink . This number varies from 1�% in Karaganda oblast to 4�% in the city of Almaty . On the other hand, over 50% of respondents in Karaganda and Atyrau oblasts find water in their region partly or fully unfit to drink, and �0% in the city of Atyrau think their water is absolutely unfit .

there is a positive correlation (r= 0.618) between the percent share of respondents in each oblast who find water in their region partly or fully unfit to drink, and the percent share of respondents who buy bottled water . This correlation is important at the level of 0 .01 in the application of Pearson’s one-sided correlation . It follows that the purchase of bottled water itself may be considered an indicator of region-wide water quality .

5.2.5 human health Issues in Kazakhstan

Diseases such as gastritis, gastrointestinal disease, and hepatitis are often related to poor water quality and poor water supply . Thus, the questionnaire included a question on whether people had been sick over the past 1� months . Some �5% answered in the affirmative, and 6% responded that a family member had been sick over the past year . The question was worded thus: “Have you or a family member had health problems over the past 1� months? If so, what was the exact nature of the problem (headache, stomach ache, hepatitis, skin disease, etc .)?” It was discovered that the population of Kazakhstan frequently suffers from headaches . Twenty percent have gastrointestinal problems . A lesser but still considerable number of people contracted hepatitis and skin disease . Other frequent diseases included heart disease, irregular blood pressure, liver desease, acute respiratory disease, etc . (Table 5 .6)

table 5.6. the sickness rate over the past 12 months as specified by respondents

Description Number of sickness cases over the past 1� months

Intestinal diseases 1,5�7

Hepatitis ��9

Headaches �,048

Dermal diseases 580

Other 857

Intestinal diseasesIt was detected that the rate of intestinal diseases is not dependent on a CWSS connection . At the same time, there is a strong connection between sustainable water supply and sickness rate . For example, �5% of people with frequent water cuts have gastrointestinal problems . There are a number of reasons for this . First, personal hygiene during water cuts may be on the fall and can contribute to the spread of the infections by fecal and oral contamination . Second, with the irregular operation of the water supply system, water may be contaminated by the contaminated water flowing in the pipeline through broken connections or fractures in water distribution networks .

Over the course of the survey, a connection was established between the type of water supply source and the sickness rate . People who use common standpipes suffer less from stomach diseases than people who use individual

The change of the demand structure in bottled water may be regarded as the indicator of water quality change.

Over 16% of the surveyed population indicated that they or their family members contracted intestinal diseases over the past 12 months.

Respondents connected to a CWSS stand double the chance of getting sick with intestinal diseases compared to those with irregular water supply.

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Figure 5 .9 . Main causes of sickness over the past 1� months, as stated by respondents (number of respondents=�,118)

standpipes . A possible reason for this is that individual standpipes are located close to cesspools, and the chance of their contamination is greater . One respondent explains as follows:

‘The floor in cesspools – waste tanks – is not concrete. Waste water and toilet residues easily flow to the water level where water is recovered for drinking and all the population’s needs.’

(Respondent, settlement, East Kazakhstan oblast)

Moreover, people using open individual reservoirs stand a greater chance of becoming sick than users of public reservoirs . In addition, there is a high chance for users of water from open sources to become sick .

Hepatitis Nearly �40 people (� .6%) of the surveyed population reported that either they or their family members became sick with hepatitis over the past 1� months . Based on this survey finding alone, it is impossible to ascertain which form of hepatitis these people had, but we can assume that it was hepatitis E, spread by fecal and infectious transfer . The largest rate of hepatitis sickness was detected in Aktubinsk, West Kazakhstan, and Kyzylorda oblasts . The sickness rate in the cities of Almaty and Astana is considerably lower .

The hepatitis incidence rate is higher for users of individual standpipes than for users of common standpipes . The major risk arises from people drinking water from open sources (lakes, rivers, and ditches) .

A total of 9� hepatitis incidents were reported in urban settlements, irrespective of connection and the sustainability of the water supply . However, as is the case with stomach diseases, people who use water from individual sources contract hepatitis more often than those who use common standpipes .

Those who became sick over the past 1� months were asked what they could cite as the cause of their sickness . Forty percent cited poor water quality as the major reason for sicknesses . In Akmola oblast, the corresponding figure amounted to �0% . Poor air and environmental quality were also noted by residents of the city of Almaty, and East Kazakhstan and Aktubinsk oblasts . It is important to note that whereas poor environmental conditions are cited as being disease causing, they do not compel people to move to other areas of residence the way poor water quality does .

During focus groups and interviews, poor water quality was cited as the major cause of many diseases . In the city of Uralsk, for instance, people complained of problems with their teeth . A respondent from West Kazakhstan oblast noted that poor water quality affects:

‘…human health. It is detrimental to stomach, skin, hair. Many people complain about gum ache.’

(Respondent, rural settlement from West Kazakhstan oblast)

An Ust-Kamenogorsk resident noted that poor water quality leads to:

‘…intestinal upset, hepatitis, thyroid diseases.’

Even in view of these findings, we cannot state unequivocally that water quality is the cause of diseases . Nevertheless, the population of Kazakhstan has seen a direct connection between water quality and their health .

Users of public water sources (wells) suffer from hepatitis less often than users of individual wells.

Figure 5 .8 The share of respondents who contracted hepatitis over the past 1� months, by settlement type

City of national statusOblast centreTownRural settlement

Poor water quality

Poor environment

No water pipe or poor public utilities

Poverty

Other

No answer

Users of public water sources (wells) suffer from digestive diseases less often than users of individual wells.

5.2.4 opinion of kazakhstan’s residents on the quality of ... · pdf file60 undp project...

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