BCG: Solving water shortage problem in Azerbaijan - priority issue on agenda

The government of Azerbaijan is consistently investing into tackling the water scarcity problem. It is high on the agenda of the President of Azerbaijan, who is bringing significant attention to it as one of the country’s main goals, reads a commentary “Addressing the water deficit: strategies for Azerbaijan” by Anton Kosach, managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Report informs.

BCG identifies two opportunities to help mitigate the water stress challenge. Agriculture, which accounts for approximately 70% of water consumption, presents significant possibilities for deficit reduction, and the industrial sector utilizes nearly all remaining water resources.

“To mitigate these risks, there is a critical need to change the perception of water as a freely available resource. This involves setting internal pricing according to anticipated tariff increases and addressing water management practices within the industrial sector.

Initiating this entails a detailed analysis of water consumption processes at the granular level possible, along with an examination of existing water balances. The objective of water management is to minimize water intensity, which is the ratio between water usage and economic output.

The water consumption cycle within any industrial plant involves withdrawal, use in industrial activities, and discharge, with water categorized as fresh or non-fresh. Amidst growing water scarcity, it is crucial to explore opportunities for reducing consumption, particularly of precious drinking water, while enhancing the quantity and quality of discharge. Re-circulation, including re-use and re-cycle practices, should be a primary method to fight the industrial scarcity issue.

Re-use is a simpler and cheaper method involving the repeated use of the same water in the production cycle without preparation and purification, for example, for cooling, while re-cycle entails treating water to restore its quality for reintegration into production processes.

To solve the water scarcity challenge in Azerbaijan, a comprehensive approach is required, which will be involving pricing reforms, improved water management techniques, and investments in sustainable water technologies. By adopting these strategies, Azerbaijan could effectively secure the long-term sustainability of its water resources,” reads the report.