Water management

River basins and water resources

Four major hydrologic regions can be distinguished in Kazakhstan, depending on the final destination of water: the Arctic Ocean through the Ob River, the Caspian Sea, the Aral Sea and internal lakes, depressions or deserts.

The total IRSWR of Kazakhstan are thus estimated at 69.32 km³/year, while the total incoming flow from neighbouring countries is estimated at 34.19 km³/year. The outflow to the Russian Federation is estimated at 38.8 km³/year, while the total outflow to the Aral and Caspian seas is estimated at 1.5 and 5 km³/year respectively.

International agreements have addressed the water allocation issues between Kazakhstan and its neighbours:

• For the Syr Darya River, the existing principles governing water sharing among the Central Asian countries will remain valid (Agreement of 18 February 1992) until the adoption of a new water strategy for the Aral Sea basin, endorsed by the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination. Under the 1992 Agreement, the part of the Syr Darya surface water resources allocated to Kazakhstan has to be no less than 10 km³/year downstream of the Chardara reservoir. Considering the 4.5 km³/year of internal surface water resources generated in the Kazakh part of the Syr Darya River basin, it can be considered that the actual surface water resources in the Kazakh part of the Syr Darya basin are about 14.5 km³/year.
• For the Chu and Talas rivers, flowing in from the Kyrgyz Republic, an interstate agreement has been reached with the Kyrgyz Republic (May 1992). This agreement addresses the water allocation issues between both republics, considering the total resources generated in the basin (including surface water, groundwater and return flow) and taking into account the water evaporated from the lakes and reservoirs. On average, it can be considered that the part of the surface water resources allocated to Kazakhstan is 1.24 km³/year for the Chu basin and 0.79 km³/year for the Talas and Assa river basin.

The annual renewable groundwater resources of Kazakhstan are estimated at 35.87 km³/year (1993), of which 29.77 km³/year corresponds to the overlap with the surface water resources. The total ARWR can thus be estimated at 109.61 km³/year. In 1993, the part of groundwater resources which could be extracted from existing pumping facilities was estimated at 6.1 km³/year.

More information
(http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/countries/kazakhstan/index.stm)