On July 9, Kazakhstan honors its water sector workers, a profession that has never been more critical. As climate change intensifies and water scarcity grows, the country is pushing ahead with significant reforms to ensure sustainable water management. The government, through the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, is spearheading large-scale modernization efforts. These include constructing new reservoirs, reconstructing existing facilities, and implementing digital technologies and water-saving solutions. The goal is clear: to ensure sustainable and efficient water use, enhance safety amid a changing climate, and improve the availability and quality of water resources.
Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has tasked government agencies with establishing regional headquarters to manage water-related risks during the growing season. He emphasized the need for adopting water-saving irrigation technologies and strengthening control over violations in water use. “We must actively introduce water-saving irrigation technologies and strengthen control over violations in water use,” Bektenov stated, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
A cornerstone of these reforms is the new Water Code, signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on April 9, 2025, and enacted in June 2025. The Code introduces water-saving mechanisms, protects water bodies, and shields citizens and the economy from water shortages and pollution. It emphasizes five key principles: the integral role of water in the environment, the economic value of water resources, integrated use of surface and underground water, effective water conservation, and public engagement in water resource management.
The Code also introduces the development of a General Plan for Integrated Water Resource Management and a Basin Plan. It strengthens liability in the water sector and introduces supervisory functions to ensure water-saving plans are implemented. To combat the “black” water market, control has been tightened to prevent unauthorized water use and ensure compliance with established bans on economic activity in water bodies and water protection zones.
Kazakhstan plans to build 42 new reservoirs and reconstruct 37 existing ones by the end of 2030. This will ensure sustainable water supply for agriculture, reduce the threat of flooding, and decrease dependence on transboundary waters. In the northern regions, new reservoirs will help accumulate 1.5 billion m³ of floodwaters, preventing flooding in 216 settlements. In the south, they will allow for an increase in irrigated land by 295,000 hectares.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is implementing 98 projects funded by the national budget and international financial institutions. These projects include automating irrigation networks in the Kyzylorda, Zhambyl, and Turkistan regions. Automation projects involve installing gates with flow meters and software solutions for planning, operating, and managing water resources. Remote control and automation eliminate the need for on-site visits and allow for controlled water distribution.
The introduction of automation on irrigation canals will bring significant benefits. It will eliminate overwatering and under-irrigation, ensuring transparent distribution of resources among farmers. As Kazakhstan continues to grapple with water scarcity and climate change, these reforms and modernization efforts are crucial. They not only address immediate challenges but also pave the way for sustainable water management in the future. The sector’s development will likely influence global water management practices, emphasizing the need for integrated, efficient, and sustainable approaches.