Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes: Kazakhstan's Senate Ratifies Water and Health Protocol

The Senate has approved the ratification of the Protocol on Water and Health to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, Orda.kz reports.

Presenting the document, Senator Arman Utegulov reminded colleagues that Kazakhstan depends heavily on external water sources, with around half of its water originating beyond national borders.

We are one of the water-dependent states of Central Asia. Yet, our internal infrastructure is failing, 60–70% of water supply networks are worn out, and 40% of the rural population lacks full access to centralized water supply,
 the deputy stressed.

The new Water Code, adopted in 2024, initiated important reforms, but it's not enough. Water quality and sanitation must meet international standards. And here, the Protocol on Water and Health plays a crucial role; it's a unique international agreement that brings together water and health issues worldwide,
 Utegulov added.

Key Commitments

Under the agreement, participating countries must:

• Set measurable goals for improving drinking water, sanitation, hygiene, and public health
• Develop monitoring and early-warning systems for water-related diseases
• Prepare coordinated emergency response mechanisms
• Improve interagency cooperation on water safety and quality
• Expand public access to decision-making and information on water management
• Strengthen transboundary cooperation and international partnerships

Ratification grants Kazakhstan access to technical expertise and global best practices in drinking water treatment, wastewater disposal, and reuse, as well as joint surveillance systems and early-response planning.

The move follows President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev's signing of several bilateral agreements with Uzbekistan on November 15 in Tashkent — among them, a Supreme Interstate Council decision to establish a joint working group to forecast water flow in shared rivers.

Original Author: Anastasia Prilepskaya