Kazakhstan Accelerates Digital Transformation of Water Sector to Address Future Water Risks

Kazakhstan is intensifying efforts to digitalize water management and expand water-saving technologies to ensure sustainable water use amid rising demand and climate pressures.

Kazakhstan is in the process of transforming and speeding up its water sector digitally, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiyev declared at a government meeting.

He said that data from 11 government platforms will be integrated into the National Water Resources Information System. The technology will create a single digital water management area by enabling forecasts, analytics, and safe data interchange.

Acoording to Zhaslan Madiyev, the implementation of the system eliminates inconsistencies in data, optimizes administrative processes, minimizes the influence of the human factor, and ensures objectivity in the distribution of water resources and calculations for water use.

As part of the national initiative for the Modernization of the Energy and Utilities Sector, Kazakhstan intends to attract 1.9 trillion tenge (US$4.04 billion) in investments for wastewater and water supply infrastructure. The complete industrial launch is scheduled at the end of 2026, with core functions already in operation. 95% of public services in the water industry are now provided online, and reengineering nine important business processes is predicted to modernize operations by 51%.

Digitalization is spreading to the field level, 103 irrigation canals will be automated by this year, and 264 more canals are planned with assistance from the Islamic Development Bank. In order to enable real-time monitoring and loss reduction, Kazakhstan intends to install around 3.6 million smart water meters at the utility level between 2026 and 2028.

Kazakhstan is concentrating on water efficiency in all economic areas in addition to digital solutions. Agriculture is aggressively using water-saving technology; 150,000 hectares of them were used last year. Water conservation and reuse will thereafter be prioritized, with aims to more than triple this share by 2030.