Swipe to right
Section navigation
Incidents of elevated and extremely elevated levels of water pollution and climate change phenomena result in declining quality and quantity of water resources in the country. Currently, half of all the nation's highest rated clean groundwater resources are located in the south, while the western regions of the country are experiencing significant clean water shortages. The situation with transboundary rivers is increasingly complex, with water evaluated at 13 of 15 monitoring stations failing to meet established cleanliness guidelines. Water There are 39,000 rivers and several thousand lakes in Kazakhstan. Deposits Identified groundwater resources amount to ~ 15 km year 3 / 2018 3 922 42 937 000 2019 4 286 43 032 950 In 2019, 1282 potable groundwater deposits were analyzed, of which 402 are exploited, with an overall volume of 1.12 m 3 per day per capita, or twice the amount required under current conditions. In 2018 and 2019, the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan working group on environmental protection and water quality of the Syr Darya River basin met and agreed to monitor water quality on the Syr Darya River and also agreed on a list of indicators for joint monitoring and acceptable measurement standards and methods. The U.S. Department of State prepared the "Program for International Cooperation and Joint Management of Water Resources of the Syrdarya River between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan" project. Within the framework of the Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection between the Governments of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the People's Republic of China, on November 27-29, 2019, the VIII meeting of the working group on rapid response to emergencies and prevention of pollution of transboundary rivers was held in Nur-Sultan . Th e Kazakhstan-Russia Commission for the Joint Use and Protection of Transboundary Bodies of Water has been established and is working, as are six working groups on the protection and use of water resources of transboundary basins of the Zhaiyk (Ural), Kigash, Karaozen and Saryozen, Tobyl, Yessil (Ishim), and Yertis (Irtysh) rivers. The sides exchange hydrological, water management, and hydrochemical information; cooperate on scientific and technological progress in the field of water management, integrated use, and operation of hydraulic structures; and pollution prevention, water depletion and factors of negative impact. CASPIAN SEA L. Balkhash Atyrau Uralsk Aktau Aktobe Zhaiyk R. Tobol R. Kostanay Petropavlovsk Nur-Sultan Yessil R. Karagandy Pavlodar Ust'-Kamenogorsk Yertis R. Syrdarya R. Kyzylorda Shymkent Taraz Ile R. Алматы ARAL SEA Zhaiyk-Caspian Basin Tobol-Torgai Basin Yessil Basin Nura-Sarysu Basin Yertis Basin Aral-Syrdarya Basin Shu-Talas Basin Balkhash-Alakol Basin Basin Water Management Boundary Oblast Administrative Bo undary Bodies of water of national importance include the Caspian Sea, Lake Balkhash, Lake Zaisan, the Alakol lake system, the Yertis River. Eight river basins are attributed to national lands. Streamflow of all Kazakhstan rivers is estimated at 100 km3 / year, 54 km3 of which are formed within the territory of the republic, and 46 km3 in neighboring countries. Aggregate Groundwater Deposits and Volume Volume, m3/day Deposits Volume, m3/day Classification of groundwater by purpose and volume, m3 / day Class Domestic use and drinking water supply (DW ) Industrial and Technical Water Supply (ITW) Irrigation (IW) Domestic use-drinking and industrial-technical water supply (DW, ITW) Domestic use-drinking water supply and irrigation (DW and IW) Complex use (DW, ITW, IW) 2018 15 642 000 2 224 000 18 925 000 1 255 000 4 167 000 725 000 2019 13 840 664 3 032 500 17 385 837 3 011 621 4 949 968 725 000 Water quality in bodies of water - 2019 Class 1 Suitable for all types of use. Highest rated. Kara Yertis, Yertis, Usolka, Shilik, Bayankol, Karkara, Turgen, Tentek, Urzhar, Bogen, and Aksu rivers. Ust- Kamenogorskoye Reservoir 11 rivers 1 reservoir Class 2 S uitable for all types of use except domestic use or as drinking water. Simple treatment methods can render the water fit for both ordinary domestic use and as drinking water. Ulbi Krasnoyarska Tekes , , , Sharyn Temirlik Zhamanty , , , Yrgaity Katynsu rivers. , and Buktyrma Kapshagay , , and Vyacheslavskoye reservoirs. 8 rivers 3 reservoirs Class 3 Not recommended for use in salmonoid fish hatcheries. Rigorous treatment methods are required for domestic use and as drinking water. For recreation, irrigation, industrial and other uses, this class is suitable for unrestricted use. Breksa, Glubochanka, Emel, Derkol, Silets, Ile, Kishi Almaty, Esentai, Ulken Almaty, Esik, and Kaskelen rivers. Bartogay and Kurty reservoirs. 11 rivers 2 reservoirs Non-standardized class. Pollutants present in this water are not rated below Class 3 guidelines resulting in bodies of water not assignable to Classes 4 or 5 Korgas, Lepsi, Aksu, Karatal, and Shu rivers. Lake Ulken Almaty. Samarkan and Kengir reservoirs. 5 rivers 1 lake 2 reservoirs Class 4 Suitable only for irrigation and industrial use. Extensive treatment methods are required for household use and as drinking water. Not recommended for recreation and tourism use. Yertis Buktyrma Ayagoz Tikhaya , , , , Zhaiyk Shagan lek Kargaly , , Ye , , Kosestek Aktasty Ulken Kobda Kara , , , Kobda Emba Saryozen Temir Or , , , , , Yrgyz Uy Karatorgay sil , , , Yes , Bettybulak Nura Kokpekty Yeginsu , , , , Sarykau Keles Badam Arys Katta , , , , - Bugun Syr Darya rivers Shalkar , . and , Sholak Esey Sultankeldy Kokai , , , and lakes. Zhogary Tobyl and Sergeyevskoye reservoirs. Koshim, Nura sil, and K Satpayev canals. -Yes . Aral Sea 30 rivers 6 lakes 2 reservoirs 3 channels Class 5 Suitable only in hydroelectric power generation, mining, and water transport. Not recommended for all other uses. Oba, Ayet, and Togyzak rivers. Sasykkol and Zhalanashkol lakes. Amankeldy, Karatomar, and Shardara reservoirs. 3 rivers 2 lakes 3 reservoirs <5 class Non-standardized class. Exceeds all class 5 guidelines. Lowest rated. Zhaiyk Sharonova Kigash Emba Shyngyrlau , , , , , Karaozen lek West Kazakhstan Oblast Oyil , ( ), , Ye Tobyl Obagan Zhelkuar Sarybulak Akbulak , , , , , Zhabay Kylshykty Shaga laly Aksu Kara Kengir , , - , , , Sokyr Sherubainura Sarysu Talgar Talas Assa , , , , , , Berikkara Aksu Karabalta Toktash rivers , , , . and Markakol Jasybai Sabyndykol Toraigyr Shalkar , , , , , Kopa Zerendy Burabay Ulken Shabakty Kishi , , , , Shabakty Shchuchye Sulukol Karasye Zhukey , , , , , Maybalyk Tekekol Katarol Lebyazhye Bilikol , , , , , Balkash Teniz Alakol lakes Shortandy , , . and and Tasotkel reservoirs. Caspian Sea. 28 rivers 22 lakes 2 reservoirs 1 sea <3 class In bodies of water where hazard class substances I and II are observed, the aggregate pollution indicator is calculated according to the maximum allowable concentration. Maximum allowable pollutant concentrations by ecological guidelines of Kazakhstan, 2018-2019, of transboundary waters in Kazakhstan River Shagan Ural O Yelek (WK ) Yelek (Aktobe) Tobyl Ayet Yertis Kara Yertis Emel Ile Tekes Shue Karabalta Talas Syr Darya 2,20 3,09 1,46 2,04 2,46 2,67 1,79 2,17 2,42 2,28 1,07 1,94 0,60 0,48 0,51 0,36 1,48 2,44 1,02 1,00 1,26 1,23 1,60 1,59 3,56 4,62 1,48 1,45 2,23 4,06 1,23 2,40 1,12 1,49 1,31 2,03 1,18 1,81 1,55 1,94 1,01 1,69 0,51 0,47 1,56 0,23 1,30 2,36 1,05 1,24 1,16 1,26 1,61 1,57 2,43 4,49 1,41 1,41 2,16 2,94 2018 year 2019 year Transboundary rivers of the Republic of Kazakhstan are in critical condition. In the spring and autumn of 2019, checks at 13 of 15 control points exceeded permissible concentrations of pollutants. In 2018, excessive concentrations were registered at 14 of 15 checkpoints in the spring and 13 of 15 in the autumn. Fresh water intake - 2018–2019, millions m3 The highest intake of naturally sourced water occurs in the Kyzylorda, Turkestan, Almaty, and Pavlodar oblasts. Percentage of water intake by economic sector - 2018–2019 Industry & manufacturing Domestic Agriculture Fish farms Other 22,3 3,6 10,7 63,3 0,1 Freshwater intake from open sources Freshwater intake from underground sources Total freshwater intake 22 522 1 020 23 542 2018 21 754 1 055 22 809 24 3,9 7 65 0,1 2019 Water usage by category - 2013–2019 - millions m3 Domestic freshwater usage exceeds 5% of the total; that is in comparison to 25% devoted to industrial use. The highest volume industrial water usage is observed in the sectors of thermal power generation, non-ferrous metallurgy, and the petroleum industry. The greatest overall usage is by the agricultural sector, which also experiences the highest water loss rate. Without a reduction in water loss, and assuming economic and population growth remain stable, by 2040, water intake needs will increase to 30 km2 annually. Water losses during transport - 2013-2019 - millions m3 Percentage of water loss during transport 60 50 40 Domestic use / drinking water Industry & Manufacturing Regular crop irrigation Spring runoff irrigation Agricultural usage Pasture flooding Fish hatcheries and farms Greenspace watering 873,1 5 235 9 511,1 321,3 180,4 94,2 18,6 11,1 791,6 5 307,7 10 029,3 270,8 152,6 105,2 23,5 9,8 741,2 5 350,7 9 491,2 290,7 167,4 93,5 23,9 11,1 715 5 230 9 019,6 330,5 185,5 94,5 35,7 14,6 2016 2017 2019 2018 Agriculture Public utilities Industry 4 000 3 500 3 000 2 500 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2 850 2 854,5 2 500,3 3 462 3 557 3 719 3 295 In 2019, safety testing of drinking water for radiation levels revealed irregularities in 398 of 4531 samples examined. In 2019, safety testing of water for drinking, recreation, tourism, and sports, 12% of samples did not meet chemical and sanitary standards and 4% of samples did not meet microbiological safety standards. Surface water quality control samples were drawn: - in 2018, at 389 locations on 139 bodies of water in 2019, at 412 locations on 141 bodies of water - . Percentages of total population supplied with drinking water from centralized providers. 2018 2019 Urban centers Rural centers Urban centers Rural centers 94,5 % 59,9 % 97,2 % 86,4 % Category I bodies of water administered by the Committee for Public Health Category II bodies of water administered by the Committee for Public Health Water samples examined for microbiological parameters Percentage of non- conforming microbiological samples Water samples examined for sanitary and chemical parameters Percentage of non- conforming samples for sanitary and chemical parameters 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 2018 2019 171 174 1 449 1 994 1 236 1 902 530 548 5,7 4 7,3 13 Aggregate of inspections for compliance and violation of water legislation 2018-2019 Groundwater monitoring stations - 2016–2019 Total chemical analyses of groundwater conducted - 2018–2019 To provide for the safe operation of water management facilities in 2017-2021, the reconstruction of 41 emergency reservoirs is envisaged. Freshwater reclamation and recycling - 2015-2019 - millions m3 In 2019, 125 B Tenge were allocated for the development of water supply and sanitation systems. Recycled water supply Reclaimed water supply 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 7 813,9 7 423 8 145,2 8 753 8 849 746,3 834 788,5 787 840 Inspections ( ) total 2018 2019 181 124 Violations (t otal ) Fines Issued Repaid (total) Tenge (thousand) (total) Citations issued total ( ) Tenge (thousand) 181 152 181 96 110 95 9 330 9 709,5 104 75 8 642 8 031,2