OSCE supports water quality transboundary monitoring in Chu-Talas river basin

From 27 to 30 April in the Zhambyl region, the Programme Office in Nur-Sultan, in collaboration with Kazakhstan’s hydrometeorology service Kazgidromet, launched its first in a series of four surface water samples collection in the transboundary Chu and Talas river basin. The water samples taken by Kazgidromet specialists from 16 different locations will be delivered to the Kazgidromet’s local laboratory in Taraz for examining the physical and chemical composition.

Based on the water samples quality assessment, an OSCE-hired expert from Kazgidromet will prepare and present an analytical report on the state of the quality of water in the Chu and Talas river basin at the Intergovernmental Chu-Talas Water Commission meeting. A similar testing will be conducted by Kyrgyzstan’s hydrometeorology agency with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek.

The Chu-Talas Water Commission promotes bilateral co-operation between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on allocating the water resources of the Chu and Talas rivers, and in maintaining the efficient use of water management facilities of intergovernmental status.

The project is part of the Office’s multi-year efforts to build the capacity of state institutions in the area of water governance and to contribute to the improved transparency and information exchange in transboundary water dialogue.