The Astana (Vyacheslav) reservoir — a vital artery for the capital of Kazakhstan — has found itself at the centre of a public debate. Media publications about the classification of the water as fourth class quality have stirred up a wave of concern among residents. The editorial team at FBRK decided to get to the bottom of the matter, sending requests to all responsible departments.
As a reminder, earlier the founder of FBRK, Kirill Pavlov, drew attention to an alarming fact: ploughed fields stretch out along the River Ishim and its tributaries, which feed the reservoir. Some of these fields approach the water to a critical distance — just 25 metres. This raises a logical question: how safe is such proximity for a source from which the entire capital drinks?
The Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control of the Ministry of Health assures that the situation is fully under control. According to their data, in 2023 all 26 water samples (8 sanitary-chemical and 18 microbiological) met the standards. In 2024, out of 36 samples, only one was found to be non-compliant — with an excess of iron during the flood period.
“Drinking water is supplied to the population after undergoing treatment at the filter-pumping stations of the ‘Astana Su Arnasy’ water treatment facilities and complies in all respects with ҚР ДСМ-138”, the department claims.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation echoes its colleagues. According to their information, analyses by ‘Astana Su Arnasy’ dated 4 February 2025 show that the raw water meets the standards. The ministry particularly emphasises: “the change in class is not related to pollution of the water body, but is due to a revision of background concentrations”. In 2024, a recalculation of background concentrations of suspended solids allegedly took place, from 10.25 mg/dm³ to 4.45 mg/dm³.
However, data from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources paints a somewhat different picture. Their monitoring clearly indicates: “the water quality in the Astana reservoir in 2024 is classified as 4th class due to the concentration of suspended solids – 5.467 mg/dm³”. Moreover, indicators fluctuated throughout the year: from 2nd class in August to 4th in May, June, September, and October. In October, exceedances were recorded not only for suspended solids (5.6 mg/dm³) but also for magnesium (32.6 mg/dm³).
Comparing the responses from the departments reveals some contradictions. Sanitary and Epidemiological Control mentions only a single exceedance for iron, while ecologists record systematic exceedances for suspended solids for most of the year. And the Ministry of Water Resources even asserts that the water meets all standards. How is that possible?
The explanation may lie in different research methods. The Ministry of Ecology explains that surface water quality monitoring is carried out using 31 physico-chemical indicators at clearly defined points and during specific hydrological phases. Other departments may use different sampling points and measurement frequencies.
Furthermore, the department explains that “the downgrading of the Astana reservoir’s water body class for 2024 is associated with updating the background concentration for the country's water bodies based on five-year data.”
What is critically important to understand: according to the Ministry of Ecology's classification, “4th class water is suitable for irrigation and industry; for drinking water supply, deep water treatment methods are required”. The question is: does ‘Astana Su Arnasy’ actually apply such methods?
The Ministry of Water Resources assures that serious measures have been taken to protect the reservoir. A resolution from the Akim of the Akmola Region has established water protection zones (500-1000 metres) and strips (50-100 metres). Additionally, three sanitary protection zones with different regimes have been created. But then how do we explain the presence of ploughed fields 25 metres from the water?
As a solution to the problem, the ministry announces: “In order to maintain the ecological balance of the reservoir, from 2025 it is planned to clean the reservoir of bottom-silt deposits.” At the same time, ecologists are developing a plan for monitoring water bodies during the 2025 growing season.
Specialists from the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control warn: “consumption of water that does not meet the requirements of ҚР ДСМ-138 is not recommended, as any exceedance of the maximum permissible concentrations of any chemical substances in water has an indirect impact on the level of non-infectious morbidity in the population”. They clarify, however, that “untreated water from the Astana reservoir is not used by the population for drinking purposes”.
The proximity of agricultural land to the reservoir clearly contradicts the stated requirements for water protection zones. This looks particularly concerning in light of the recorded exceedances for suspended solids, which could be a direct consequence of soil runoff from adjacent areas.
The FBRK editorial team will monitor the development of the situation around the Astana reservoir.