Kazakhstan’s new Water Code, developed by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, has officially come into force.
For the first time, the document introduces the concept of “water security”, defined as the protection of citizens and the economy from water shortages and pollution, as well as safeguarding national interests in the management and conservation of transboundary water resources. To prevent the depletion of water bodies, the code also introduces the term “environmental flow”, referring to the minimum acceptable water level needed to sustain the ecosystems of rivers, lakes, and seas.
The new code mandates the creation of a General Water Resource Management Plan and basin-specific plans. These documents will set out objectives, strategies, and key actions based on water availability forecasts. Their conclusions and recommendations will be incorporated into national planning processes.
Public participation in water resource management decisions has been expanded. Basin councils will now be able to recommend reducing permitted water usage volumes, propose measures to mitigate floods and droughts, and call on local authorities to correct any violations they’ve committed.
“When drafting the new Water Code, we followed five core principles. These are: recognizing water as an integral part of the environment and a foundation of life and economic development; protecting water and preventing its depletion; integrated use of surface and groundwater; implementing water-saving technologies and adapting to climate change; and involving the public in the stewardship and use of water resources. This document will help shape a new state policy on water resource management,” said Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation.