Once a beloved summer retreat for Baku residents, Govsan Beach has today become a symbol of neglect and environmental failure. What was formerly a coastal gem is now drowning in untreated sewage — a chilling testament to years of inaction, poor infrastructure, and policy failure.
Raw wastewater is being dumped directly into the Caspian Sea, polluting not only the local marine ecosystem but also poisoning the air and water around the settlement. Locals complain of unbearable stench and unlivable conditions. This isn’t a recent development — residents and environmentalists have been sounding the alarm for years. Yet the response remains reactive, fragmented, and ultimately insufficient.
Authorities from the urban water service admit that Govsan lacks a centralized sewage system. They blame illegal housing developments for making it impossible to issue proper water and sewage connections. But shifting responsibility to residents is both unfair and dangerous. Yes, illegal construction is a serious urban challenge — but that cannot justify allowing an entire community to dump untreated waste directly into the sea.
Let’s be clear: this is not just an infrastructure problem. It is a governance problem. The government has long turned a blind eye to unplanned urban growth, issuing empty warnings instead of implementing long-term urban planning and environmental regulation. The fact that temporary solutions like septic tanks (shambo) are being suggested as the fix only reinforces how makeshift and unsustainable the current approach remains.
Meanwhile, the health risks are mounting. Open sewage in residential areas is a known catalyst for waterborne diseases and contributes to broader ecological degradation. The Caspian Sea is already under immense strain from industrial runoff, declining biodiversity, and oil pollution. The situation in Govsan adds yet another layer of crisis.
If Baku’s authorities are serious about protecting public health and environmental integrity, they must act now. This means:
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Investing in proper sewage infrastructure for outlying districts like Govsan;
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Creating a realistic plan to legalize or resettle informal housing with safe access to public utilities;
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Enforcing environmental regulations that punish illegal dumping, regardless of circumstance;
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And most importantly, treating Govsan not as a forgotten fringe zone, but as part of the capital’s urban future.
Until then, the beach that once welcomed families and tourists will remain a cautionary tale of what happens when urban development is allowed to grow wild, and the environment pays the price.
