Water industry in Kazakhstan

"Currently, measures are being taken to further develop the water resources management system," said Deputy Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan S. Kozhaniyazov during a press conference at the CCS site.

The press conference was attended by journalists and specialists of the water industry.

Vice Minister S. Kozhaniyazov stressed that in accordance with the instruction of the Head of State in the address to the people of Kazakhstan, digitalization and automation of management of hydraulic structures, distribution, accounting and monitoring of water resources are being introduced.

Global climate warming will lead to an increase in moisture evaporation in river catchments and a decrease in inflow into rivers. There is a decrease in glacial runoff, which provides up to 50% of river runoff during the growing season. The problem is compounded by the fact that Kazakhstan is heavily dependent on cross-border effluents, as well as existing internal problems.

The most vulnerable are the Aral-Syrdarya (93%), Zhaiyk-Caspian (82%), Shu-Talas (74%), Balkash-Alakol (48%) water management basins, the least vulnerable are the Tobyl–Torgai (12%) and Ertis (20%) water management basins.

There is a disproportion of the load on water resources in the context of regions.

Against the background of a possible decrease in river flow (transboundary and local), there is a problem of wasteful water use, especially in agriculture.

The country's economy needs three times more water per dollar of gross domestic product (hereinafter – GDP) than Russia or the United States, and six times more than Australia.

If the current situation of the use of water resources in the sectors of the economy and the population persists by 2030, there is a risk of a decrease in the pace of socio-economic development due to water scarcity.

The imperfection of legislation does not create prerequisites for the preservation of the country's water resource potential. The absence of an economic mechanism for the rational use of water resources does not create conditions for the development of water conservation, and also leads to additional costs from the budget to eliminate the consequences of water scarcity.

Based on the existing challenges and problems, there are threats:

1) reduction of water resources, primarily due to climate change;

2) dependence of water supply through transboundary rivers on the policies of neighboring countries;

3) irrational and inefficient water use, weak automation and digitalization of water distribution and metering processes;

4) low staffing of the Committee on Water Resources and its basin inspections;

5) reducing the environmentally safe and economically optimal level of water use to preserve and improve the living conditions of the population and the environment;

6) further increase in the accident rate of hydraulic structures in connection with the achievement of the service life limits and the unsatisfactory condition of the main part of the water infrastructure facilities;

7) weak scientific support of water resources management and an increasing shortage of qualified personnel.

Measures taken to improve the situation in the water industry.

A draft concept for the further development of the water resources management system of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been developed.

The main goal of the concept is to create conditions to meet the growing needs of the population, the environment and economic sectors for water, to ensure effective management of water resources and demand for water, in conditions of a projected shortage of water resources.

Novella, along with "resource management", it is necessary to "manage the demand" for water, namely to use less water to meet the same needs.

To achieve these goals , the Concept sets the following tasks:

Preservation of the country's water resource potential.

Ensuring compliance with the interests of Kazakhstan in the management and use of transboundary watercourses.

Improvement of water legislation.

Improving the efficiency of water use, switching to economically sound tariffs, active introduction of water-saving technologies, reducing the volume of waste water use due to repeated and recycled water supply.

Implementation of digitalization and automation of hydraulic structures management systems, distribution, accounting and monitoring of water resources.

Restoration and modernization of hydraulic structures and irrigation networks, ensuring their safety, reducing water losses in irrigation systems.

Development of scientific potential with the creation of a scientific center on water resources and water management.

Improvement of the system of training and advanced training of personnel for water management.

Ensuring the participation of water users and society in the management of water resources and water demand.

Following the results of the press conference, S. Kozhaniyazov answered journalists' questions.