Kazakhstan is officially in a water deficit zone.

The UN has identified a problem: Kazakhstan's water resource stress level is 34.6%, which is already considered water scarcity. The reasons have been known for a long time, and I have been writing about them for a long time, but the situation remains unchanged.

Most importantly - water in Kazakhstan is used inefficiently. Losses are enormous, especially in agriculture. And that accounts for 65% of the country's total consumption.

Secondly - old irrigation systems. Water evaporates, pipes leak, canals deteriorate.

And of course - dependence on transboundary rivers. Kazakhstan gets half of its water from its neighbors, and negotiations are becoming more difficult. And given the Qosh Tepa in Afghanistan, given the climate this year…

The FAO proposes using groundwater, but they themselves say it is scarce and unevenly distributed, and its quality leaves much to be desired.

At the same time, I want to remind the FAO of the sad experience of using groundwater in certain Eastern countries and what it led to.

If nothing changes, in 10-15 years the situation will become critical. Agriculture and industry will be the first to feel the consequences, and then – pain.

The only question is when the authorities will start solving the problem seriously, rather than just stating facts and reporting on the number of meetings held.

In the photo: amazing southern metamorphoses - with the help of a small hole in an irrigation canal, tens of thousands of hectares of swamp can be created in the desert.