Towards Sustainable Solutions: Assessing Rural Access to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation in Atyrau, Kazakhstan

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to advance sustainable social and economic progress globally. Out of Kazakhstan´s about 20 million people, 7.5 million people reside in 6,500 rural settlements, with 6.5 million in 3,900 settlements connected to centralized water supply systems. About half of all households rely on private boreholes and public standpipes. Additionally, 80% of rural households use outdoor toilets, with just 3% connected to sewer systems, highlighting significant disparities in water and sanitation access. Consequently, safe access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) for rural people is the most important priority for Kazakhstan regarding SDGs. However, there is large discrepancy between official statistics and the actual conditions highlighting urgent needs for accurate baseline data to better reflect the realities of water and sanitation access in Kazakhstan. For this purpose, we used structured questionnaires to assess water access, sanitation services, and a multinomial logistic regression analysis to examine the factors influencing households' willingness to pay (WTP) for individual water supply systems in Atyrau households. Water sources, sanitation availability, and household practices were investigated offering insights into sustainable water and sanitation management. Indoor taps served 44.2% of households, while 60.5% used centralized systems for drinking water. Daily interruptions affected 19.9%, with 23.0% dissatisfied with quality. Outdoor toilets were used by 79.6%, and 43.7% relied on pit-filling. While 82.5% of respondents favored free individual water supply installations, only 11.6% were willing to pay the $426 installation cost, highlighting financial constraints. Consequently, there are persistent challenges in ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation in rural areas of Kazakhstan. Infrastructure gaps, poor water quality, and reliance on outdoor toilets pose health risks. Financial constraints further limit access. Targeted investments, improved oversight, and community engagement are critical for sustainable solutions aligned with the SDGs.