(6 February 2026 | Source: TV channel “24.kz”)
Residents of Shymkent discovered tens and hundreds of dead fish along the embankment on 3 February. Specialists link the incident to the possible discharge of chemical waste into the water. According to a preliminary version from ecologists, an acidic solution may have been dumped into the sewage system, which then entered the river.
The incident has prompted an inspection of municipal and industrial facilities connected to the wastewater system.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE SUSPECTED SOURCE OF POLLUTION
According to TV channel “24.kz”, polluted wastewater flowed into the river through a sewage pipe for several hours. The company that may have allowed the discharge of the acidic solution is currently being identified.
At the same time, an investigation has been launched into “Water Resources Marketing” LLP, which owns the damaged sewage pipe. Responsibility may also be considered for the organisation maintaining this section of the network.
ECOLOGISTS’ POSITION
The head of the testing laboratory at the Department of Ecology, Akmoral Nysanbekova, stated that the discharge of acidic solutions is prohibited even through the sewage system.
“Department specialists are opening an inspection of the water utility ‘Water Resources Marketing’ LLP. It will later become known which company allowed the discharge of the acidic solution. Even into a sewage pipe, an acidic solution cannot be dumped; it must be neutralised, and local treatment facilities should be in place,” she said.
Representatives of sanitary and epidemiological control advised residents to carefully check documents for fish before purchasing.