Japanese Johkasou systems improve sanitation and reuse water in Karakalpakstan
Japanese Johkasou wastewater treatment systems have been installed at social institutions in Karakalpakstan, according to Akiko Fujii, the UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan.
The systems make it possible to reuse treated wastewater for irrigating gardens and small-scale agriculture. One of the installations was set up at a rehabilitation centre in Nukus district. The centre now grows fruits and vegetables on site to feed its patients.
Water reuse improves health and nutrition
Johkasou systems were also introduced at a kindergarten and a specialised school in Khodjeyli. The installations improved sanitation and helped save water for garden irrigation. In addition to their practical purpose, the systems serve as teaching tools. Children learn about wastewater treatment technologies and the importance of protecting the planet’s resources.
In the first four months of operation, the systems have purified 16,400 cubic metres of wastewater. Their installation was financed by the Government of Japan and supported by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture and UNDP.
Johkasou systems have been used in Japan since the late 1940s. They separate solids from liquids, decompose waste in anaerobic conditions and disinfect the water, which can then be reused in agriculture.
Rehabilitation centre grows food for patients
In the Nukus rehabilitation centre, which serves around 3,500 patients per year and includes the region’s only prosthetics unit, the Johkasou system significantly improved sanitation and water availability.
«With the installation of the system, we started growing tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins and fruit-bearing plants,» said Jenispay Tursynbekov, the manager of the centre. «There are no problems with irrigation — the treated water lets us use every drop efficiently. We no longer worry about the harvest.»
The system has also allowed the centre to expand green areas and plant trees, which has improved the microclimate and created a more soothing and therapeutic environment for patients.
«Reliable access to clean water is essential for high-quality patient care,» said the centre’s director. «The Johkasou system has improved our working conditions and opened up new opportunities for the centre’s self-sufficiency.»
Cleaner, safer learning environments
At Kindergarten No. 13 in Nukus district, the system has created a cleaner, safer environment for children and staff. It has also become an educational tool — teachers organise outdoor lessons where children water garden beds, observe plant growth and learn how wastewater can be safely reused.
In the specialised school for children with scoliosis in Khodjeyli, the new Johkasou system has improved hygiene and comfort for students with special needs. Pupils and staff are now more aware of the value of water and the importance of conserving it — an especially important lesson in water-stressed regions like Karakalpakstan.
Since their installation, the Johkasou systems have treated enough wastewater to irrigate 12–13 hectares of land annually. They have improved hygiene, reduced the risk of waterborne diseases and made it possible to grow crops even in areas where water is in short supply.
The systems have also eased financial pressure on local families by eliminating the need for expensive well construction. According to UNDP, the Johkasou systems not only clean wastewater, but also strengthen communities by improving health, lowering costs and building resilience.
Kursiv also reports that Uzbekistan with aid of teh FAO will conduct the country’s first large-scale joint census of population and agriculture.
