ASTANA, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan has achieved universal access to clean drinking water across all communities, local media reported on Tuesday.
The centralized and decentralized water supply systems currently cover all 90 cities and 6,087 rural settlements across the country, Kazinform news agency reported, citing Vice Minister of Industry and Construction Kuandyk Kazhkenov.
Centralized water supply now covers 96 percent of the rural population, while the remaining areas are served by individual wells or water delivery to sparsely populated, remote villages, Kazhkenov said at a government meeting.
"The target set by the Head of State to ensure universal access to drinking water by the end of 2025 has been fulfilled," Kazhkenov said.
He also noted that digitalization has become an important focus in the sector's further development. Kazakhstan plans to install over 3.6 million smart water meters from 2026 to 2028. ■