Temirtau Residents Report Water Shortages

Water supply disruptions continue in Temirtau, despite more than one billion tenge having been allocated from the budget for new pipeline installations, Orda.kz reports.

Residents have appealed directly to the Akim of the Qaraganda Region, Yermaganbet Bulekpayev, according to MSU City. They are calling for urgent action, saying the local Akimat has failed to address what they describe as a full-scale utilities crisis.

We have no water, no electricity. In the 21st century, in 2025, we go to the toilet in bags. We buy orange bags, go to the toilet in them and then take them to the trash. I want to address you not even as the regional administration, but as a person. I want to live like a human being, so that my children can wash themselves,said Temirtau resident Irina Dzhakubekova. 

Temirtau, a city of nearly 180,000 people, underwent repairs on its main water pipeline in 2023. The Akim at the time, Oraz Taurbekov, stated in national media that over 10 billion tenge would be required to overhaul the pipeline system entirely. 

Authorities planned to repair the most deteriorated and specific sections, which still cost at least 500 million tenge. However, residents say the situation has not improved. The pipeline continues to break down, and water is regularly shut off during repair work.

Many residents claim the Temirtau Akimat has failed to respond to their concerns, prompting them to escalate their appeals to regional officials.

The company responsible for water supply, TOO Okzhetpes-T, frequently issues notices about repair works and planned water outages, often publishing such updates every two days.

The editorial team at Orda.kz contacted the Temirtau Akimat for comment but has not yet received a response.

Notably, a state of emergency was already declared in Temirtau in March of last year following a major water network failure that left the entire city without water.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya