Qaragaily Residents Oppose Wastewater Project Over Environmental Concern

Residents of Qaragaily village near Qarqaraly are protesting a wastewater project they fear could lead to environmental problems, Orda.kz reports.

The project includes the construction of central water and sewer systems with treatment facilities designed to purify wastewater using bacteria. Authorities plan to discharge treated water — classified as third-class quality — into the Ashchisu River, a tributary of the Talda.

Third-class water cannot be used as food, it cannot be given to livestock, it cannot be used to breed certain types of fish. But even if livestock cannot be given this water to drink, a child will come to swim in the river and swallow this water. What are the consequences? People cannot understand why dirty water, purified third-class water, should be mixed with clean water, said lawyer Albina Ovcharenko, representing local residents.

The villagers filed a lawsuit demanding that the discharge point be redirected to old filtration fields left over from the Soviet era, which were previously used for wastewater. They argue this was discussed at public hearings a year and a half ago, but no follow-up consultations took place, and construction is now 80% complete.

And at the same time, we will take water from the Talda River. Drinking springs are nearby. This is completely abnormal, absurd!said local resident Tulegen Yegizbaev, who also expressed concern over potential power outages.

Without electricity, the treatment system and bacteria would fail, increasing the risk of unprocessed wastewater entering the river.

The project currently costs 3.5 billion tenge and lacks a backup power supply.

Officials plan to request additional funding for generators after completion.

If there is a possibility to consider additional resources for generators, why can’t we additionally consider adjusting the wastewater discharge point and satisfy the appeal of the residents of the village of Qaragaily?  said Saltanat Sultanbekova, another resident.

Officials argue that the project passed environmental review and was approved:

The project for the construction of treatment facilities with water supply networks has passed the state examination. We have no information that these effluents will somehow pollute the environment. When developing the design documentation, the approval of the Nura-Sarysu Basin Inspectorate was received. Also, permission was received for discharge until 2029. The adjustment will lead to an even greater increase in cost, since the project has currently cost 3.5 billion tenge. Secondly, there will be an increase in terms of time. In the event of environmental pollution during discharge of effluents, we plan to additionally provide for sludge fields with another project. But this will be after the existing project is put into operation, commented the chief specialist of the construction, architecture and urban development department of the Qarqaraly district Aidar Mukhan. 

Local maslikhat deputy Umsynai Tanybekova echoed the public’s concerns, stressing the need to ensure water safety and minimize risks.

The case is currently being reviewed in a specialized administrative court. District officials are requesting that the claim be denied, pending a response from the state expert review board on potential project adjustments.

Original Author: Inna Rutz