BergerWorld: 4th Quarter 2004

Since 1999, the Berger Group has worked in the mountainous nation of Tajikistan rehabilitating roads and power generation, providing flood assistance and improving the nation's soviet-era water supply networks. Upgrading these aging systems is a daunting task, requiring the upgrade of existing equipment, the installation of new delivery networks to reduce water contamination and the extension of water networks to new customers.

The Dushanbe water network, built during the mid-20th century when Tajikistan was part of the Soviet Union, began experiencing problems related to deteriorating water quality during the country's civil war. To upgrade this system to international standards, the World Bank selected the Berger Group to prepare designs, specifications and bid documents for the proposed improvements. Berger studied the existing water treatment plant and evaluated the needs of the system's 600,000 customers. Following the initial studies, the Team prepared detailed designs for the rehabilitation of water supply facilities, the modernization of testing laboratories and the replacement of the chlorinating equipment. Berger also prepared specifications for the cleaning and rehabilitation of the Samotechnaya sedimentation pond, the key element of the city's water treatment system. Berger then prepared comprehensive schedules for the implementation of the upgrades, as well as contract information, bid documents and detailed specifications for environmental mitigation measures.

Following this successful project, Berger was selected by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to improve potable water supply systems for 87,000 citizens in the Sughd and Khatlon districts. The Team studied the original designs and current condition of the water distribution systems, prepared demand forecasts and identified gaps in coverage. Using this data and detailed field studies, Berger specialists identified several alternate designs and selected a plan, including boring eight 120-meter-deep wells in the Sughd region and 13 75-meter-deep wells in the Khatlon region, constructing three service reservoirs, upgrading more than 33 kilometers of main pipeline and 60 kilometers of distribution pipes, installing new standpipes and developing increased power supplies. Currently, Berger is preparing detailed designs and bid documents for these systems and training local organizations to effectively manage the new facilities.

Throughout the course of the project, Berger will work with the Ministry of Water Resources and Land Reclamation (MWRLR) and the Project Management Office to increase institutional capacity and provide staff with on-the-job training in ADB guidelines, modern project management and scheduling. Berger is also working with the MWRLR to increase citizen's awareness of water issues by organizing and training water users' associations and forming local water and sanitation councils. These citizens' groups will promote increased awareness on water issues and provide oversight for the new water networks.