New requirements of the Water Code: phased transition to recirculating water supply.
In accordance with the new Water Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, specific requirements are established aimed at the rational use of water resources and the implementation of water-saving mechanisms in the industrial sector.
In particular, according to paragraph 5 of Article 133 of the Code, industrial organizations and heat-generating entities that do not have recirculating and/or reuse water supply systems are required to submit a plan for transitioning to such systems no later than two years from the date the Code comes into force. Furthermore, the implementation period for this plan must not exceed five years.
This provision is aimed at reducing water consumption in production, increasing the share of water reuse, and reducing the environmental burden.
According to a note from ZQAI, paragraph 7 of Article 45 comes into force on January 1, 2027, in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 134 of the Water Code. According to this provision, having a plan for a phased transition to recirculating and/or reuse water supply systems is an additional condition for issuing permits for water withdrawal from surface water bodies and for granting the right to special water use.
These requirements were discussed in detail on February 11, 2026, during a meeting with water users held at the Shu-Talas Basin Water Inspectorate. During the event, participants were explained the new legislative norms, deadlines for submitting plans, as well as the main mechanisms for implementing water-saving technologies. The introduction of the new requirements aims to improve the efficiency of water resource management, strengthen the responsibility of the industrial sector, and ensure environmental sustainability.
"Rational use of water resources is our shared responsibility."
10 February 2026 year among the employees of the Ertissk Basin Water Inspection was held a meeting on comprehensive explanation of the changes and additions, provided for by the draft new Constitution, enhancement of legal literacy of citizens and clarification of the essence of the level state politicallegal reforms
During the course of the meeting were considered the main constitutional changes their legal significance questions of the implementation of the principles of openness and accountability Was held an open exchange of opinions on the protection water resources environmental issues and measures of state support To all questions from the employees were given answers and provided specific explanations
Following the results of the discussion was highlighted the importance of consistent and effective application of the norms new Constitution in practical activities
At the Kyzylorda University named after Korkyt Ata, the chief specialist of the AraloSyr Darya basin water inspection for the protection and regulation of water resources use, Madenova Fariza Bolatovna, delivered a substantive lecture for students of the 3rd year studying in the specialty "Water Resources and Water Use"
During the meeting, she shared important information about the activities of the basin water inspection, the role and structure of institutions in the field of water management Furthermore special attention was paid to issues of using transboundary water sources between states, explaining the international normativelegal documents and agreements adopted by the United Nations Organization
Within the lecture framework, it was discussed about the operation of reservoirs located along the Syr Darya River their joint use, and effective management of water resources This event contributed to the deepening of professional knowledge of the students and to the increase of their interest in current problems in the field of water resources
On November 27 of this year, the chief specialist of the territorial department of the Akmola region of the RGU "Yesil Basin Inspectorate for Regulation, Protection and Use of Water Resources" Omarov M.K. conducted explanatory work on the activities of the Inspectorate with 11th-grade students of the secondary comprehensive school №1 of the village of Zhaksy-Zhaksynsky district of the Akmola region and on violations in the field of water management, urging them to enroll in the specialty "Water Resources".
In November of this year, in the BalkhashAlakol basin inspection, with the participation of the speaker of the information and educational pool at the Department of the Anti-Corruption Agency for the Karaganda region Ruslan Tokatov Altaevich, a meeting was held among employees to clarify the current legislation and comply with their requirements
The meeting was organized in accordance with the national policy on combating corruption and supporting transparency in government agencies
The following topics were discussed during the meeting:
A meeting was held in the Shu-Talas Basin Inspectorate on the results of the inspection of the inspection's activities with the participation of the Head of the Department of Administrative Work of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Following the inspection, the inspection staff were recommended to fully use the functionality of the ODO IS for maintaining electronic document management, strengthen control over the timely and high-quality execution of citizens' requests and control documents, as well as study the regulatory legal acts governing the conduct of office work, etc. In turn, the inspection staff received answers on issues of office work and electronic document management.
The Tobol-Torgay hydrographic basin, in terms of its territorial affiliation, covers the entire Kostanay region, part of the Ulytau region, as well as part of the Aktobe and Akmola regions.
In the territories of the first three, there are hydraulic structures (HS - reservoirs, dams, weirs) that are part of our basin; there are 123 of them in total:
In the Kostanay region - 98 HS
In the Aktobe region - 19 HS
In the Ulytau region - 6 HS
In the autumn of this year, as part of the preparation for the flood period of the upcoming 2025, the Inspectorate, together with the competent authorities, carried out commission visual inspections of hydraulic structures that are in an unsatisfactory condition.
Thus, as of today, based on the results of visual inspection, 33 HS (27%) are in unsatisfactory condition:
In Kostanay region - 13 HS
In Aktobe region - 19 HS
In Ulytau region - 1 HS
The results of the commission inspections were reported to the Local Executive Bodies of the relevant regions.
The balance holders are carrying out measures to repair and restore these HS.
The Inspectorate monitors the progress of repair and restoration work on hydraulic structures in the controlled territories.
On November 15 of this year, the chief specialist of the Aktobe department of the Zhaiyk-Caspian basin inspection Zharylkasyn Kundyz conducted explanatory work for 10th grade students of the secondary school gymnasium No. 21. During the explanatory work, by asking questions, we learned the opinions of students regarding water resources, and also touched upon the problems associated with water occurring in our country and in the world. It was explained about the contribution of our institution to the regulation, protection and use of water resources, what work is being done to solve problems associated with water resources.
Also, the importance of water was explained, that there is a shortage of specialists in the water sector and the state increases the number of grants allocated to universities from year to year. Schoolchildren have a great opportunity to become a specialist in this field in the future, and a list of universities in Kazakhstan teaching specialties in the field of water resources was also announced.
The head of the department of the Yesil basin inspection for the North Kazakhstan region, Yesimseitova A.K., held a conversation with students of the NEI Humanitarian and Technical College of Petropavlovsk on the issue of choosing a future profession and what specialists are needed in the water industry of Kazakhstan, and also provided information about the Taraz Regional Institute named after Dulati, where water management personnel are trained. The conversation was held with students studying in the specialty "Construction and operation of buildings and structures".
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation presented a draft of the new Water Code, developed to solve one of the most important tasks of Kazakhstan - effective water resources management. This project provides for the introduction of water-saving technologies, the development of water reuse systems, as well as the creation of mechanisms aimed at a more careful attitude to the country's water reserves.
At the initiative of the Balkhash-Alakol Basin Inspection, a meeting was held on November 11 this year in the Almaty branch of the «AMANAT» party. Within the framework of this meeting, Majilis deputy Bakytzhan Bazarbek noted that modern technologies and innovations in the water sector will become the basis for rational and sustainable water use. He emphasized that the use of advanced methods will reduce the load on natural water sources and ensure their safety for future generations.
The head of the Balkhash-Alakol Basin Inspection, Serik Tlemisovich Meyrambekov, highlighted the current state of water resources in Kazakhstan and the problems associated with the protection of water protection zones. Measures to control illegal development of water protection areas and the need to tighten requirements for water management facilities were also announced. In addition, he emphasized the importance of state responsibility in water resources management, pointing out the need to strengthen measures to protect water bodies.
During the discussion, initiatives were also proposed to create an effective system for monitoring the state of water bodies and strengthen coordination between various government and public structures. The meeting participants agreed that only joint efforts, consolidation of resources and the use of innovative approaches will allow Kazakhstan to cope with water challenges, improve the situation in the water sector and contribute to the sustainable development of the country.