Kapchagay water reservoir is 100% full once again, authorities report

According to the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the Kapchagay water reservoir has brimmed to 100% for the second year in a row, thanks to bilateral arrangements between Kazakhstan and China.

Currently, the body of water holds about 18.5 billion cubic meters, which is enough to provide farmers in the Almaty region with irrigation water.

The Kapchagay water reservoir was built on the Ili River, which flows from China. The river plays a crucial role in supporting the ecosystem of Lake Balkhash. Thanks to the abundant inflow of water, the lake’s level has risen by 12 centimeters over the year, while the volume has increased by 2 billion cubic meters.

«The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation stays in touch with its counterparts in China on a wide range of issues related to the distribution of water from transboundary rivers, including the Ili. For the second year in a row, this work has helped us deliver irrigation water to farmers in the Almaty region and improve the environmental situation in the Lake Balkhash basin,» said Serik Meyrambekov, head of the Balkhash-Alakol Basin Inspection.

Last year, the reservoir became full for the first time in 10 years. Specialists believe this was due to the active melting of Tian Shan glaciers and abundant precipitation. Kazakhstan has also reached an agreement with Kyrgyzstan to boost the amount of irrigation water for farmers in the Zhambyl region.