Almaty's wastewater plant overhauls capacity and slashes pollution by 90%
Almaty's wastewater treatment plant has undergone major upgrades since a 2006 emergency spill. The facility now handles sewage from Almaty, Talgar, and Kaskelen with improved capacity and stricter pollution controls. Recent modernisations have cut pollutant levels by 90%, preventing further incidents.
The plant's transformation began after the 2006 discharge, when outdated systems failed. Between 2010 and 2015, new German-made equipment and an upgraded aeration system were installed. By 2020, daily processing capacity rose from around 200,000 m³ to over 500,000 m³.
Further improvements came between 2022 and 2025, introducing advanced biological treatment. The plant now combines mechanical and biological processes before releasing treated water into the Ili River. Secondary polishing and emergency disinfection ensure compliance with environmental standards.
In 2017 alone, Almaty Su invested over 160 million tenge in security and procured 1,000 units of new equipment. That same year, the company rebuilt 18.4 kilometres of water pipelines and 4.2 kilometres of sewer networks. The Antimonopoly Department later reviewed these investments as part of a wider 2017–2018 programme assessment.
The upgrades have drastically reduced pollution risks while expanding the plant's ability to serve multiple cities. Treated wastewater now meets stricter quality checks before entering the Ili River. Kazakh government and World Bank reports confirm the improvements have prevented further emergencies.
