Kazakhstan's reservoirs received 75bln m³ of water during spring floods - ministry

Kazakhstan utilized 11 billion cubic meters of water during the past irrigation season, Kazinform News Agency quotes Moldir Abdualiyeva, an official from the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, as saying at a press conference in the Central Communications Service.

This year, the irrigation season began on April 1 and will end in September. The lion share of the water was supplied to Kyzylorda region – 3.5 billion cubic meters, Turkistan region – 3.2 billion cubic meters, Zhetysu region – 1.2 billion cubic meters and Zhambyl region – 1 billion cubic meters.

According to Moldir Abdualiyeva, the ministry's activity focused on three important areas. The first area is unprecedented filling of the water reservoirs, for the first time in many years. The second area is water diplomacy, i.e. negotiations and agreements with the neighbouring countries, which, due to their geographical location, are especially important for the southern regions of the country. And the third direction is the preparation of hydraulic facilities, which includes repair, reconstruction and cleaning the water canals, preparation of irrigation networks and other organizational issues.

She pointed out that 75 billion cubic meters of water were collected in the country's reservoirs during the spring floods, which is 15 billion cubic meters more against the last year. Over 12 billion cubic meters of the accumulated water are flood waters. Today, the reservoirs of the northern, central, eastern and western regions of Kazakhstan are 80% full. Filling the Astana reservoir with flood waters allowed saving more than 2 billion tenge, since there was no longer a need to feed the reservoir through the Satpayev Canal.

The speaker also added that 839 million cubic meters of water were supplied from Ulytau region to Kyzylorda region. Thanks to this measure, this water reached the lakes of Kyzylorda region via the Sarysu River. Since the beginning of the year, 12 billion cubic meters of water have been supplied to Lake Balkhash, and 7.4 billion cubic meters reached the Caspian Sea.

The Kapchagay Water Reservoir has been filled, for the first time in 10 years, by 100%, and Yertis River received twice as much water than the last year.

The Kazakh ministry keeps on cooperating with the neighboring countries which allowed to provide southern regions with required water resources.