The proposed reforms were presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on July 20 during a review of measures aimed at further improving the country's drinking water supply and sewerage system.
According to the presentation, the wide variation in tariffs across regions has also reduced the sector's investment appeal. To address the issue, the government plans to separate drinking water production from distribution by establishing a dedicated bulk water supply company. The new entity would sell water to regional utilities under a unified wholesale tariff.
Authorities also intend to establish an Interagency Tariff Commission to determine water supply and sewerage tariffs based on transparent and economically justified criteria. In addition, a unified tariff for state-funded organizations is proposed to take effect on April 1, 2027.
The president also stressed the need to reduce water losses as demand continues to grow. By 2030, annual drinking water consumption is projected to increase by another 230 million cubic meters from the current 941 million cubic meters, making more efficient resource management a priority.
To achieve this, the government plans to fully transition consumer billing to online systems, equip all consumers in cities and district centers with modern remote-reading water meters, and reduce water losses from 35% to 25%.
The modernization program also includes the creation of a digital map of water supply infrastructure and the widespread introduction of SCADA, GIS, telemetry technologies and a unified billing system. Artificial intelligence is expected to be used to monitor pumping equipment, detect accidents and leaks at an early stage, forecast water consumption and process citizens' requests more efficiently.
The reforms also place emphasis on workforce development. The president endorsed a proposal to establish a specialized faculty at the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers and introduce dual education programs in water supply and sewerage through regional technical colleges.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mirziyoyev instructed officials to ensure the timely and effective implementation of the planned projects, expand access to water and sewerage services, strengthen the financial sustainability of utility providers, accelerate the sector's digital transformation and improve service quality for consumers.
