The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is preparing for the flood season. According to the agency, the water volume in the Astana Reservoir has been reduced to 83%: from December 20, 2024, to January 3, 2025, nearly 5.1 million m3 of water was discharged from it. By April 1, 2025, the ministry plans to decrease the water volume in the reservoir to 300 million m3, or to 73%.
Approximately 51 million m3 of water remains in the Aktobe Reservoir. By April 1, it is planned to reduce this volume to 47.3 million m3. The water volume in the Bitik Reservoir of the West Kazakhstan region has been lowered to 34.4 million m3. Currently, 8.3 m3 of water is being discharged from the reservoir per second.
The Bukhtarma Reservoir in the East Kazakhstan region is filled to 79%. By April 1, the ministry intends to further reduce the water volume in it by another 8%. The Intymak Reservoir in the Karaganda region has collected 69 million m3 of water. To accommodate flood waters in the spring, the reservoir is planned to be freed up to 39%.
The water volume in the Kengir Reservoir in the Ulytau region has decreased to 86%. Before spring, it is planned to release about 11% more. The Upper Tobol Reservoir in the Kostanay region has gathered 585.4 million m3 of water. According to the operation regime of the reservoir, a decrease in the water volume to 499.4 million m3, or to 61%, is expected by April 1.
“In spring, it is crucial not only to collect flood waters in reservoirs but also to direct them to lake systems, natural pastures, and meadows. Therefore, it is necessary to plan the work for proper water distribution in advance. This year, the requests of farmers and other water users were fully met. During the previous irrigation period, about 11 billion m3 of water was supplied to the country's farming households. Additionally, significant work has been done to preserve and restore large and small water bodies,” noted the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Nurzhan Nurzhigitov.