Water Management - The Times Of Central Asia

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Water Management

Kazakhstan Prepares for Flood Season by Releasing Water from Reservoirs

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) has begun releasing water from key reservoirs across the country to prepare for the influx of meltwater expected during the spring thaw. This proactive measure follows the devastating floods of spring 2024, the worst in 80 years, which affected multiple regions and displaced over 120,000 people. By pre-emptively releasing water from reservoirs, Kazakhstan hopes to mitigate the impact of the spring flood season. This preparation underscores the importance of coordinated water management to protect communities, agriculture, and infrastructure from the devastating effects of extreme weather events. In early January, the MWRI held a meeting to discuss water management strategies for the upcoming flood season. Authorities have initiated controlled releases in reservoirs located in the west, east, north, and center of the country - regions hit hardest by last year’s flooding. These releases are designed to reduce water levels in preparation for spring meltwater. Astana Reservoir: Between December 20, 2024, and January 3, 2025, 5.06 million cubic meters of water were released, lowering the reservoir to 83% of its total capacity. By April 1, its volume will be further reduced to 73% (300 million cubic meters). Aktobe Reservoir: Currently holding 51 million cubic meters, this will be lowered to 47.32 million cubic meters by April. Bitik Reservoir (West Kazakhstan): Discharging at 8.3 cubic meters per second, its volume has been reduced to 34.45 million cubic meters. Bukhtarma Reservoir (East Kazakhstan): Now at 79% capacity, this will be reduced by another 8% by spring. Yntymak Reservoir (Karaganda Region): Of its current 69 million cubic meters, only 39 million cubic meters will remain to accommodate floodwaters. Kengir Reservoir (Ulytau Region): Reduced to 86% of capacity, it will be lowered by an additional 11%. Upper Tobolsk Reservoir (Kostanay Region): Holding 585.4 million cubic meters, its volume will be reduced to 61% (499.37 million cubic meters) by April. MWRI head Nurzhan Nurzhigitov emphasized the importance of strategic water management throughout the year. “In spring, it is critical not only to collect floodwaters in reservoirs but also to distribute them to lake systems, natural pastures, and meadows,” he said. Nurzhigitov urged regional authorities to plan for efficient water allocation, noting that during the previous irrigation period, farms received approximately 11 billion cubic meters of water. Efforts to restore and preserve both large and small reservoirs were also highlighted. Last spring’s historic floods inundated regions in northern, western, eastern, and central Kazakhstan for nearly two months. Over 120,000 people were evacuated, with rescue efforts involving multiple government agencies, including the Ministries of Emergency Situations, Defense, and Internal Affairs, as well as local authorities and volunteers. Despite extensive state aid, many citizens raised concerns about the allocation of resources, as previously reported by The Times of Central Asia.

Water resources

Kazakhstan Receives Abundant Water in 2024

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has reported record water accumulation in the country’s reservoirs and lakes in 2024. This year, Kazakhstan’s reservoirs collected over 75 billion cubic meters of water, including more than 12 billion cubic meters of floodwater from unprecedented spring floods in the western and northern regions. These floods were triggered by rapid snowmelt, leading to significant increases in water availability. According to the Ministry, efficient floodwater distribution helped replenish reservoirs and direct excess water to rivers and lakes that have faced drying trends in recent years. Notable allocations include: Lake Balkhash: Received 15.4 billion cubic meters of water in 2024, a 4-billion-cubic-meter increase from 2023. Of this, 3.3 billion cubic meters came from floodwater. Located 175 miles northwest of Almaty, Balkhash is the largest lake in Kazakhstan and the fifteenth-largest in the world. Caspian Sea: Gained 17 billion cubic meters of water, addressing concerns over its declining water level. The Times of Central Asia previously reported concerns that the Caspian could lose up to 18 meters of water by the end of the century. Kapchagay Reservoir: For the first time in a decade, this reservoir in the Almaty region filled to 100% of its capacity, collecting over 18 billion cubic meters of water. The reservoir regulates the flow of the Ili River, which originates in China and flows into Lake Balkhash. North Aral Sea: Received approximately 2.5 billion cubic meters of water, 400 million cubic meters more than in 2023. This portion of the former Aral Sea is fed by the Syr Darya River and separated from the South Aral Sea in the late 1980s due to water diversion for agriculture. Kamysh-Samar Lakes: Located in the West Kazakhstan region, these lakes were replenished with 80 million cubic meters of floodwater. Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov emphasized the Ministry’s efforts to preserve and restore large and small water bodies across Kazakhstan. During the 2024 irrigation season, approximately 11 billion cubic meters of water were supplied to the country’s farms to support agricultural activities. The record water accumulation and successful flood management efforts underscore Kazakhstan’s commitment to sustainable water resource management.

Irrigation

Kazakhstan’s Southern Region Receives Full Irrigation Water Supply from Kyrgyzstan

This year, five districts in Kazakhstan’s southern Zhambyl region—Kordai, Merke, Baizak, Zhambyl, and Talas—were fully supplied with irrigation water from the transboundary Shu and Talas rivers, which flow from neighboring Kyrgyzstan. The announcement was made by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. In April, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan agreed on a joint water intake schedule for the 2024 irrigation season. As part of this agreement, Kazakhstan received 418 million cubic meters of water from the Talas River, exceeding the planned 380 million cubic meters and surpassing last year’s allocation by 94.2 million cubic meters. Additionally, along the Shu River (called Chu in Kyrgyzstan), Kazakhstan was allocated 165.3 million cubic meters, 29.7 million cubic meters more than in 2023. “Farmers in the Zhambyl region were fully provided with irrigation water according to their needs,” stated Kairat Amanov, director of the Zhambyl branch of Kazvodkhoz. In total, 533.3 million cubic meters of water were delivered, irrigating 90,100 hectares of farmland. Kazvodkhoz, a division of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, is responsible for managing the nation’s irrigation infrastructure, including canals and reservoirs. Kazakhstan’s agriculture, especially in its arid southern regions, relies heavily on irrigation water from Kyrgyzstan. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan faces its water management challenges. The water level of Lake Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake, has been declining, partly due to the diversion of feeder rivers for local irrigation and to meet downstream agricultural needs in Kazakhstan. Although the Shu River does not directly feed Lake Issyk-Kul, it originates in the Issyk-Kul region and could have been utilized to irrigate nearby farmland. Instead, it plays a critical role in supporting Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl region. This allocation highlights Kyrgyzstan’s significant role in Central Asia’s water policies and its ongoing efforts to maintain cooperative relations with neighboring countries on key water and energy issues.

Water

Vietnamese Companies to Modernize Bishkek’s Wastewater Treatment Facilities

On December 18, the Bishkek City Administration signed a public-private partnership agreement with a consortium of Vietnamese companies - SFC Investment Development for Environment and Phu Dien Investment Construction and Trading. The agreement outlines plans for the reconstruction and modernization of the city’s wastewater treatment facilities. The project aims to comprehensively upgrade Bishkek’s municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure using cutting-edge technologies. Key initiatives include: Equipping the municipal water supply company’s laboratory with advanced water quality analysis tools. Replacing outdated water chlorination systems with ultraviolet disinfection technology. Automating control processes for wastewater treatment. The modernization is designed to ensure that treated wastewater meets both national and European environmental standards. It also aims to reduce environmental impact through the introduction of odor treatment systems. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, Bakyt Torobayev, highlighted the urgency of such projects during the National Water Forum on November 29. Torobayev noted that only 39.5% of Kyrgyzstan’s 2,014 cities and villages currently have access to clean drinking water. Addressing the country’s water infrastructure needs will require an estimated $2 billion. The modernization of Bishkek’s wastewater treatment facilities represents a significant step forward in improving water management and ensuring sustainable development in Kyrgyzstan’s capital.

Agriculture

Kazakhstan Boosts Subsidies for Farmers Using Water-Saving Technologies

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation has announced an increase in state subsidies for farmers employing water-saving technologies, raising support to 85% for irrigation water costs. This move aims to encourage the widespread adoption of modern water-saving methods, which are expected to reduce water consumption and expand agricultural land. Berikbol Mandibayev, Director of the Ministry’s Department for the Development of Water-Saving Technologies, highlighted the initiative’s potential impact. “The increased subsidies will motivate farmers to adopt modern water-saving technologies, saving 20–30% of irrigation water and enabling the expansion of the country’s agricultural land by 1.3 million hectares by 2030,” Mandibayev said. Subsidies for the purchase and installation of water-saving systems were also raised this year, increasing from 50% to 80%. The Ministry has outlined a Roadmap for Water Conservation for 2024-2026, which includes measures to improve water legislation, digitalize the water sector, and implement advanced water metering and conservation technologies. Additionally, master plans for introducing water-saving systems through 2030 have been approved. Kazakhstan’s agricultural land spans 23.3 million hectares, of which 1.9 million hectares are irrigated, primarily in the country’s arid southern regions. However, the adoption of water-saving technologies remains limited. In 2023, only 17% of irrigated land (312,000 hectares) utilized such technologies, with drip irrigation employed on just 84,000 hectares. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has criticized the slow pace of progress in adopting water-saving practices, citing annual water losses of up to 40% in some regions. The agricultural sector’s inefficiency prompted calls for urgent reforms earlier this year.

Geopolitics

Harnessing Diplomacy: Qosh Tepa Canal as a Bridge to U.S. Influence in Central Asia

The Center for the National Interest, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, has released a report titled Afghanistan’s Qosh Tepa Canal and Water Security in Central Asia. The report outlines how U.S. support for the Qosh Tepa Canal project could provide an opportunity for the incoming Trump administration to strengthen its influence in the region. Project Overview Currently under construction in northern Afghanistan, the Qosh Tepa Canal aims to divert water from the Amu Darya River to support agriculture and economic growth. The canal will stretch 287 kilometers, with a depth of 8.5 meters and an average width of 100 meters. Once completed, it will irrigate more than 1.2 million acres of farmland and generate approximately 200,000 jobs in northern Afghanistan. While the Taliban has championed the project as a cornerstone of Afghanistan’s development, the canal poses significant challenges for downstream countries reliant on the Amu Darya, particularly Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Concerns include potential water scarcity, environmental degradation, and heightened regional tensions. Implications for Central Asia The report highlights that the canal could exacerbate existing disputes over water allocation in a region already plagued by scarcity. Unlike its Central Asian neighbors, Afghanistan is excluded from water-sharing agreements rooted in the Soviet era. The poorly designed Soviet canals along the Amu Darya continue to undermine water security in the region decades after their construction, a fate experts hope to avoid with Qosh Tepa. Recommendations for U.S. Engagement The report urges the United States to seize this opportunity to engage Afghanistan and the broader region diplomatically and technically: 1. Support for a Well-Engineered Canal The United States should advocate for a well designed canal that prioritizes water-use efficiency. By offering technical assistance and backing the project in principle, the U.S. could pave the way for multilateral development banks, such as the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Asian Development Bank, to provide financial and technical support. 2. Promote Regional Water Diplomacy Washington should encourage negotiations for a regional water-sharing agreement among Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. 3. Assist Downstream States Additional investments in modernizing irrigation systems in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan could mitigate the canal's impact on downstream water availability. Strategic Context The report underscores the geostrategic importance of Afghanistan and Central Asia, which border three of Washington’s primary global competitors: China, Russia, and Iran. By supporting the Qosh Tepa Canal project and fostering regional water-sharing cooperation, the U.S. could counterbalance the growing influence of Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran in the region. A Watershed Moment As construction progresses into its second phase, involving thousands of workers and heavy machinery, the Qosh Tepa Canal stands at the nexus of development and diplomacy. The report concludes that U.S. involvement in this critical project could serve not only to address Central Asia’s pressing water security challenges but also to reinforce Washington’s strategic position in one of the world’s most complex geopolitical arenas.