SUU/WATER - exhibition

An aerial view of the Abshyr-Say River valley near the Abshyr-Ata karst waterfall

Dismantled old pipes and infrastructure components in the backyard of the water treatment facilities. Kyzyl-Kiya, Batken Region, Kyrgyzstan. March 2026.Worn-out Soviet-era utility lines are being replaced under a water systems modernization program. Throughout the project in Kyzyl-Kiya, 34 kilometers of water networks were rehabilitated and over 3,200 water meters were installed. As a result, local access to safe drinking water increased by nearly 68.6%, while the number of residents using improved wastewater services more than tripled.

Manai Akhmatalieva (67) in her apartment. Uzgen, Osh Region, Kyrgyzstan. March 2026. Until late 2025, the city of Uzgen completely lacked a centralized wastewater treatment system; residents of this multi-story building had to rely on a communal outdoor toilet and fetch water from a public street pump. Following the construction of the city's wastewater treatment plant and network upgrades the building was connected to the central sewerage grid. This allowed Manay Akhmatalieva to finally use her apartment's bathroom for its intended purpose, which had previously sat idle and served as a storage space.

A boy drinks water from a public street pump in the courtyard of a multi-story residential building. Uzgen, Osh Region, Kyrgyzstan. March 2026. Prior to the extensive network modernization and the launch of the wastewater treatment facilities in late 2025, residents of this building had to fetch all their water from this outdoor pump, leaving indoor bathrooms non-functional. Although the project  successfully connected the building to the central sewerage system, outdoor water columns remain a vital fixture of daily life in several neighborhoods.

An aerial view of the city of Balykchy and the shoreline of Lake Issyk-Kul. Issyk-Kul Region, Kyrgyzstan. April 2026. Serving as a major regional transport and industrial hub, the condition of Balykchy’s municipal utility networks directly impacts the environmental safety of the lake's basin. In December 2024, a comprehensive water supply modernization project, enabling the Balykchy Water Company to reconstruct 12 km of networks, rehabilitate intake wells, and introduce automated leak detection systems.

A kindergarten staff member helps a child wash their hands in a renovated washroom. Balykchy, Issyk-Kul Region, Kyrgyzstan. April 2026. The modernization of the water supply networks has provided the city's social and educational institutions with a reliable connection to clean drinking water. 

Laboratory assistant Asiya Rakhmatulina (21) carries specialized containers to collect water samples for analysis. Water treatment facilities, Kyzyl-Kiya, Batken Region, Kyrgyzstan. March 2026. Quality and safety control of drinking water is a core component of the municipal water infrastructure modernization program. The project included upgrading operational and laboratory equipment, alongside introducing modern environmental and sanitary management practices to guarantee safe water access for over 68% of the city's population.

A woman drinks water from the Abshyr-Ata karst spring. Osh Region, Kyrgyzstan. March 2026. The water from this cave spring is revered by locals as sacred and healing. Beyond its cultural significance, this natural landmark serves as a key hydrological source, providing fresh drinking water to the surrounding valley settlements.

Pilgrims and locals praying inside a cave near the sacred spring of Abshyr-Ata. Osh Region, Kyrgyzstan. March 2026. The Abshyr-Ata karst spring and waterfall are revered as a sacred site, drawing pilgrims from across the region. In addition to its cultural and spiritual significance, this hydrological landmark serves as a vital source of fresh water for the surrounding valleys, which face ongoing infrastructure challenges and climate shifts.