Since the beginning of 2026, the Kyzylorda branch of the RSE "Kazvodkhoz" has directed 881.4 million m³ of water for environmental purposes, including the maintenance of 181 lake systems, hayfields and pastures in the Kyzylorda region.
HOW MUCH WATER THE DISTRICTS RECEIVED
In total, since the beginning of 2026, 881.4 million m³ of water has been directed for environmental purposes. The distribution by territory is as follows:
- Kazalinsky district — 230.7 million m³
- Syrdarya district — 174.4 million m³
- Zhalagash district — 166.2 million m³
- Zhanakorgan district — 82.4 million m³
- city of Kyzylorda — 73 million m³
- Karmakshy district — 72.4 million m³
- Shieli district — 72.3 million m³
- Aral district — 10 million m³
WHERE THE WATER IS DIRECTED
According to the approved schedule, water is currently continuing to be released into 181 lake systems, as well as into the hayfields and pastures of the region.
As noted by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, environmental releases are carried out annually. Their purpose is to preserve lake systems and maintain water supply to territories used for haymaking and livestock grazing.
HOW MUCH WATER WILL BE DIRECTED BY THE END OF THE YEAR
By the end of 2026, it is planned to direct another about 360 million m³ of water for environmental purposes.
Chairman of the Committee for Regulation, Protection and Use of Water Resources of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation Seilbek Nuryumbetov stated that this work is aimed at preserving the ecological balance of the Kyzylorda region and protecting local flora and fauna.
According to him, maintaining the environment is linked to the quality of life of the population, the development of livestock farming, irrigated agriculture and the economy of the region.
CONTEXT
Agriculture remains the largest consumer of water in Kazakhstan: it accounts for about 65% of the country's total water consumption, the bulk of which is used for irrigation. Therefore, issues of water distribution are particularly acute in the southern regions, where agricultural production depends on the availability of irrigation water.
At the same time, problems with access to water in the Kyzylorda region also arose last year. In August 2025, local farmers reported a shortage of irrigation water: farms were forced to work to a strict schedule, and in some cases to reuse water from collectors. In September, the FBRK also wrote about significant discrepancies between official data on water supply to the region and calculations of actual water consumption. The study covered more than 40,000 fields with a total area of over 100,000 hectares of irrigated land.
This year, similar complaints have already been heard in the Zhambyl region. In April, farmers of Korday district faced a shortage of irrigation water after the RSE "Kazvodkhoz" refused to conclude a contract for its supply via the "Pravaya Vetka" canal.
In May, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov confirmed the risk of water shortage in four regions, including Zhambyl. At the same time, the water use limit for the Shu-Talas basin for 2026 was reduced from 1.2 billion to 900 million m³.
In June, FBRK founder Kirill Pavlov asked Vice-Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Aslan Abdraimov whether the low filling of the Tasotkel reservoir in the Zhambyl region matched the ministry's forecasts. Abdraimov replied that digital tools, including the Tasqyn system, had provided information about the drought and the situation with Tasotkel in advance. That is, the ministry had such forecasts in advance, but for some reason this information, apparently, still did not lead to timely decisions within the ministry itself.
Now, when "Kazvodkhoz" reports directing 881.4 million m³ of water for environmental purposes in the Kyzylorda region, the question arises not only about the volumes of water, but also about the consistency of decisions within the water resources management system. Are low-water forecasts, the needs of agriculture and environmental objectives taken into account simultaneously — and will disagreements again arise between forecasts and the practical distribution of water?
