Revised Water Regulations Establish Structure for Intelligent Water Management in Kazakhstan
Let's Dive into Kazakhstan's New Water Code!
Say goodbye to water worries with this game-changing legislation!
Renowned for its step into the future, Kazakhstan's government has unveiled a groundbreaking Water Code, developed by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. This badass new law is all about beefing up water security nationwide and ensuring sustainable management of H2O resources like a boss.
The time has come! For the very first time, "water security" is officially defined as safeguarding citizens and the economy against water shortages and pollution, with a particular focus on protecting transboundary water interests. Now let's welcome "ecological flow" to the party – it's the minimum water levels needed to keep our rivers, lakes, and seas teeming with life!
Ready to get your hands dirty? Buckle up, because the new Water Code is about to kick the water management game up several notches! Here's the lowdown:
🌟 General and basin water management plans will now guide state policies based on water availability forecasts and predictions.
🌟 Public participation is amped up through basin councils, which have a say in water use limits, flood or drought response measures, and more.
🌟 Protection requirements are tightened, especially for small rivers, lakes, wetlands, and glaciers. The construction of blind dams on small rivers is now strictly prohibited. Local authorities need to set up water protection zones in populated areas within two years.
🌟 Adaptation to climate change is key, with plans for river and lake maintenance, flood boundary mapping, and the use of cutting-edge water reuse technologies in agriculture.
🌟 Flood and drought management roles are crystal clear. The ministry is responsible for monitoring hydraulic structures and managing the flow of floodwater into reservoirs. To keep things transparent, an annual national information report on water use and conditions will be made publicly available.
🌟 The code introduces incentives for water conservation, requiring users to submit plans for phased water recycling over a five-year transition period. Farmers can collect meltwater for agricultural use by building reservoirs of up to 2 million cubic meters, with authorities' approval.
🌟 A dedicated chapter is devoted to the safety of hydraulic structures – their role in national water management cannot be understated.
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov shared the five main principles at the heart of the Water Code: recognizing water as a crucial element of the environment, basics for human life, and economic development, ensuring water protection and preventing its depletion, promoting efficient use of surface and groundwater, advocating water-saving technologies, and fostering public involvement to tackle water resource challenges.
Game changer, aye? Kazakhstan's new Water Code, in effect as of June 10, 2025, aims to rule the roost in water management while addressing pressing issues like scarcity and pollution. Get ready to embrace eco-friendly and sustainable water solutions like a pro! 💧💪🌱🔥
Sources:
[1] Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Press Service. (2025, June 10). New Water Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan Enters into Force. Retrieved from https://moprir.gov.kz/ru/
[2] Han, Q., & Voinov, A. (2025). Kazakhstan's Water Management Reform: Rebuilding the System for the Future. CGER Working Paper 111. Washington, DC: World Bank. Retrieved from https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/36603
- The new Water Code in Kazakhstan, a critical piece of environmental-science policy-and-legislation, emphasizes the importance of science-based general and basin water management plans to ensure sustainable water use.
- The Water Code's introduction of incentives for water conservation, including the promotion of water-saving technologies, reflects a commitment to tackling climate-change issues in Kazakhstan's water management.
- Kazakhstan's Water Code, a significant development in general-news, has resulted in increased public participation through basin councils, reinforcing the role of politics in shaping environmental-science policies.
