© Photo : Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan

According to Energyprom, citing a study by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, four out of eight river basins in Kazakhstan are facing a tense water management situation. These include the Nura-Sarysu, Aral-Syrdarya, Shu-Talas, and Ural-Caspian basins.

The current level of anthropogenic pollution is one of the primary reasons causing degradation in rivers, reservoirs, lake systems, accumulation of pollutants in sediment, and the presence of contaminating substances, including toxic elements, in aquatic organisms," the study states.
"As a result, the quality of drinking water sources deteriorates. Additionally, the quantity diminishes due to human economic activities.

Source: Sputnik.kz

For instance, presently, their total actual volume amounts to 102.3 cubic kilometers. By 2029, this figure will decrease by 2.9% to 99.3 cubic kilometers. This reduction will occur due to the decrease in water inflow from neighboring countries.

To improve the situation of Kazakhstan's river basins, the ministry's experts propose several rather capital-intensive projects. For instance, the purification of the Borovoe and Shchuchye lakes, the restoration of the Irtysh, Kigash, Nura, Tobol rivers' beds, and others, as well as the rehabilitation of the Syrdarya Delta.

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"According to preliminary assessments, the river flow of Kazakhstan's water basins is expected to decrease over the next six years," the statement also mentions.