The Turkmen Lake Altyn Asyr

Abstract

Currently, the development of water economy has become one of the priorities of the state policy in Turkmenistan. For Turkmenistan, which does not have a large amount of water (about 25 km³ per year), the main task is the efficient use and conservation of water resources, despite the fact that most of them (90%) is used for irrigation. One of the main problems of the country has been the depletion of water resources due to the complex natural and anthropogenic factors, including a rise in air temperature and decrease in rainfall as a result of regional climate change under global warming. Deficit irrigation water for agriculture may be partially compensated for the expense of drainage water. Until now, almost all the collector-drainage water (CDW) without treatment is discharged into the Karakum Desert and partially to the rivers, thereby worsening water quality. The total amount of drainage water discharged annually to Sarykamysh Lake and sands of the Karakum Desert ranges from 6 to 8 km³ of water with an average mineralization of 3–5 g/l. Discharge of drainage water in the desert caused underflooding, waterlogging and salinization of lands, and pollution of groundwater in an area of 700,000 ha. In this regard, it was decided to streamline the collection and discharge of drainage water into the Karashor Depression, and creating a large Turkmen Lake “Altyn Asyr” (Golden Age). In the future, it should be a source of water for livestock, fisheries development, and become an area of recreation and nature tourism.