Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan Shu–Talas’s River Basins Groundwater Project Assessment

As with many countries worldwide, Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, are under water crisis. With the depletion of the surface rivers and lakes’ water resources, including Aral, Caspian, and Balkhash Lakes’ intensive shrinking, Kazakhstan is increasing groundwater use. The permanent river basin’s surface groundwater resources’ quantity and quality investigation monitoring is required for proper resilient future strategies development. The current project provided the Kazakhstan–Kyrgyzstan Shu–Talas’s river basins groundwater project, Assessment to support water use management activities. Field groundwater surveys were conducted at 22 groundwater intakes in the research area, located in the Zhambyl region, Kazakhstan, where groundwater samples were analyzed for major ions, physicochemical parameters, and trace elements, followed by geospatial mapping. The integrated hydrogeological maps, monitoring records, and field observations were developed. The developed groundwater contour maps were used to identify recharge and discharge areas and groundwater flow directions. Groundwater was predominantly fresh, with mineralization ranging from 152 to 897 mg/L and pH values of 6.45–8.03, generally meeting drinking-water standards. Most samples belonged to the HCO3–Ca–Mg and mixed hydrochemical facies, while elevated lithium concentrations were identified at Kainar (0.043 mg/L), Sarybulak (0.031 mg/L), Kyzylkainar (0.032 mg/L), and Zhasorken (0.033 mg/L). Hydrochemical investigations identified localized elevated lithium concentrations, with a maximum value of 0.043 mg/L, exceeding the applicable drinking-water standard of 0.03 mg/L by approximately 43%. This project investigation indicates that groundwater recharge occurs mainly in Kyrgyzstan, whereas groundwater flow is directed toward Kazakhstan, confirming the transboundary hydraulic connection of the groundwater system. Kazakhstan will need to improve additionally in the surface water diplomacy and the groundwater cooperation activities with Kyrgyzstan, which has been missing till now. This project investigation should provide support in such cases of surface–groundwater transboundary issues to improve water sustainability programs.