Balkhash, Caspian, and Aral Seas Received Record Water Volumes

In 2024, Kazakhstan's reservoirs collected a record 75 billion cubic meters of water, Orda reports, citing the press service of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation.

12 billion cubic meters were flood water.

Balkhash received 15.4 billion cubic meters of water - 4 billion more than last year.

About a fifth of the volume came during the flood. For the first time in 10 years, the Kapchagay reservoir was also filled, collecting 18 billion cubic meters.

Since the beginning of the year, 17 billion cubic meters of water have entered the Caspian Sea, and 2.5 billion have entered the Northern Aral Sea, which is 400 million more than last year.

This year we restored water bodies without infringing on the interests of farmers and other water users. For example, farms received about 11 billion cubic meters of water during the irrigation period, commented the Minister of Water Resources Nurzhan Nurzhigitov. 

In the Qyzylorda region, introducing water-saving technologies has saved 200 million cubic meters of water.

This volume was sent to the Northern Aral, where 4.7 billion cubic meters of water entered the region's lakes, slightly more than in 2023.

839 million cubic meters of water were sent from the Ulytau region to the Qyzylorda region. For the first time in the entire observation period, this volume of water, passing through the Sarysu River bed, reached local lake systems.

It was previously reported that France will allocate 1.35 million euros to manage Balkhash's water resources. In addition, Kazakhstan is discussing a plan to preserve the lake with China.

Original Author: Alina Pak