Heatwave leaves Birsuat village struggling with severe water shortages

Birsuat village is facing seasonal water shortages as a late June heatwave pushes demand beyond supply. Residents rely heavily on water for irrigating kitchen gardens, straining the local system. The issue has disrupted daily life and prompted temporary solutions. The current water supply system in Birsuat was built seven years ago with a budget of 279 million tenge. Designed to last 25 years under normal usage, it struggles during heatwaves when demand spikes. Many residents also repurposed private wells into septic tanks after centralised water arrived, reducing backup options.

A natural ravine once stored water for irrigation, but its dam breached in 2024 and 2025 after heavy flooding. This year, repairs to the dam and summer irrigation pipelines are planned to ease shortages. Water outages and restorations are shared in local WhatsApp groups.

The district’s water system is run by state-owned Kommunservis, which faces financial strain due to low payment rates from rural users. The rural water tariff is fixed at 284 tenge per cubic metre, with state subsidies covering the gap to the actual cost. For those needing extra supply, Birsuat-Agro delivers three cubic metres for 320 tenge. The heatwave has worsened water access in Birsuat, with garden irrigation pushing the treatment plant past its limits. Repairs to the dam and pipelines may improve the situation later this year. Until then, residents continue to rely on notifications and alternative delivery services.