Kazakhstan reports about 40 billion cubic metres of water flowed into Lake Balkhash over three years

In Kazakhstan, about 40 billion cubic metres of water entered Lake Balkhash over the past three years. As the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation reported, this helped stabilise the water level in the lake.

According to the ministry, about 15.9 billion cubic metres of water entered the lake in 2024, and in 2025 the figure was approximately 13.9 billion cubic metres. Since the beginning of 2026, more than 9.7 billion cubic metres of water have entered the lake.

The role of the Kapchagay Reservoir

Water enters Lake Balkhash from the Kapchagay Reservoir, which regulates the flow of the transboundary Ili River. According to the ministry, in 2026 the reservoir is filled to 98% of its capacity, whereas in each of the two previous years it was filled to 100%.

The ministry's position

Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov said that the inflow of water from the Ili River remains at the level of the long-term average. In his words, this helps maintain the water level of Lake Balkhash at the optimal mark of 341 metres in the Baltic height system.

«The inflow of water from the Ili River remains at the level of the long-term average. This helps maintain the water level in Lake Balkhash at the optimal mark of 341 metres in the Baltic height system. In addition, work is under way together with French experts on a general plan for preserving Lake Balkhash until 2040. Field studies have been carried out, and the results obtained are being analysed,» said Nurzhan Nurzhigitov.

Lake Balkhash is located in the south-east of Kazakhstan and is the second-largest lake in the country. Its western part contains fresh water, and its eastern part contains salt water. Most of the water in the lake comes from the Ili River. The lake also has more than 40 islands.

Source: trend.az

Prepared by:Abdulrahman Sadikhli