Kazakhstan’s water deficit to triple

    By D. Mukhtar
    The water deficit in Kazakhstan may get three times worse by 2050, Minister of Environmental Protection Nurlan Kapparov said at the conference – The Creation of a Green Economy in Kazakhstan on Friday.
    "The main problem in Kazakhstan is water. We see the numbers, we see the predictions, we see water deficit, and we see the deficit will grow in Kazakhstan. If we do nothing, the water supply will be three times less than the demand by 2050," Kapparov said.
    He noted Kazakhstan is a country dependent on water resources, and its reliance on trans-border waters will rise.
    "Today, half of all the water comes from neighboring states, and the other half from our own water resources. We have certain calculations that say that trans-boundary waters will reduce due to the fact that neighboring countries will increase their water consumption," he said.
    He added that for a while, Kazakhstan will be able to compensate for the water deficit using its own resources thanks to melting glaciers. However, when this process stops, the water deficit will be noticeable.
    "This is one of those negative scenarios we have to consider. If we use all political efforts to conserve water, introduce water-conservation technologies and educate the population on the proper use of water, these will allow us to reduce the gap," Kapparov said, according to Trend.