Groundwater is the primary source of livestock watering across the arid pasturelands of western Kazakhstan, yet no systematic field hydrochemical assessment has been published for this region in over 40 years. This study presents the first systematic field-based hydrochemical characterisation of groundwater sources used for pasture livestock watering in the West Kazakhstan Region and Aktobe Region, filling a critical data gap that has persisted since the Soviet era. Specifically, it characterises the hydrochemistry, water quality, and infrastructure condition of groundwater sources, and evaluates the groundwater resource potential against current and projected livestock water demand. A total of 139 groundwater samples were collected along 11,182 km of field routes during May–July 2025, and analysed for 25 physicochemical parameters; hydrochemical classification was performed using AquaChem 11, and spatial analysis was conducted in ArcGIS 10.8. The groundwater chemistry distribution is bimodal: fresh bicarbonate-calcium-magnesium waters (TDS < 3.0 g/L) constitute approximately 80% of samples, while highly mineralised chloride-sulphate-sodium waters (TDS up to 9.91 g/L) occur in salt-dome-influenced discharge zones. Nitrate concentrations exceeded 50 mg/L in 23–36% of samples, with maxima of 635 mg/L, reflecting intensive anthropogenic contamination near livestock facilities. Predictive exploitable fresh groundwater resources exceed current livestock demand by a factor of 162. The principal constraint on pasture water supply is not resource scarcity but the non-operational status of 51–75% of inspected watering infrastructure, a legacy of post-Soviet institutional collapse that requires urgent rehabilitation.

Natural lithium-bearing brines are gaining strategic importance as an alternative to traditional hard-rock deposits. Approximately 78% of the identified global lithium resources are hosted in hydromineral environments, including continental brines, oilfield formation waters, and geothermal fluids. The Shu–Sarysu sedimentary basin in southern Kazakhstan is one of the most extensive, yet poorly studied, brine provinces in Central Asia. This study provides a comprehensive hydrogeochemical characterization of lithium-bearing brines in the Moiynkum structural zone of the Shu–Sarysu basin, based on regional field sampling, multielement analysis, and GIS data integration. Water samples were collected from four deep gas production wells (perforation depths of 2029–2290 m) at the Ayrakty and Amangeldy fields. Analytical data demonstrate highly concentrated chloride–calcium–sodium brines with total dissolved constituent concentrations (TDS, calculated as the sum of analyzed ions) ranging from 140.1 to 272.1 g/L, with lithium content of 24.46–55.11 mg/L, strontium 680.5–1648.2 mg/L, rubidium 4.31–8.42 mg/L and cesium 0.317–0.420 mg/L. Piper and Durov diagrams classify the samples as highly evolved Na–Ca–Cl to Ca–Na–Cl formation brines typical of deep, long-residence sedimentary formation waters. Lithium enrichment is interpreted to reflect the combined influence of several processes: water–rock leaching of Li-bearing lithologies, evaporative concentration of ancestral brines, clay-mineral ion exchange, and possible deep fluid contributions, whose relative roles remain to be constrained by isotopic data. The compiled GIS-integrated database, combining new analytical data with archival hydrogeochemical records, delineates two promising lithium-bearing provinces and identifies priority areas for further exploration. The results indicate that the Shu–Sarysu Basin is a prospective region for further exploration of lithium-bearing formation waters in Kazakhstan. The recorded Li concentrations fall within the lower range of sedimentary-basin brines currently being evaluated for lithium extraction, although their economic and technological feasibility remains to be established.

В условиях засушливого климата южных регионов Казахстана развитие пастбищного животноводства напрямую зависит от наличия устойчивого водоснабжения. Подземные воды, как более надёжный источник по сравнению с поверхностными, играют ключевую роль в обеспечении питьевых потребностей скота и обслуживающего персонала. В статье рассмотрены результаты гидрогеологических исследований, проведённых в Жамбылской области, направленных на оценку состояния и потенциала подземных вод в контексте обводнения пастбищных угодий. Проведён анализ качества, минерализации и дебитов подземных вод в различных геологических условиях – предгорных равнинах, песчаных массивах и межгорных впадинах. Полевые обследования включали отбор проб из действующих колодцев и скважин, картирование водопунктов, оценку степени износа водозаборных сооружений. Результаты показали наличие значительных ресурсов пресных и слабосолоноватых подземных вод, пригодных для нужд животноводства. Вместе с тем выявлена критическая деградация инфраструктуры водоснабжения: большая часть скважин требует реконструкции, а уровень механизации остаётся низким. Предлагаются меры по восстановлению и модернизации системы обводнения на основе актуальных данных, включая внедрение инновационных технологий и усиление межведомственного взаимодействия. Обоснована необходимость восстановления водозаборных сооружений и внедрения современных подходов к управлению подземными водами для устойчивого развития пастбищного животноводства.

The watering of pasture lands is a key condition for the sustainable development of livestock farming in the arid and semi-arid zones of southern Kazakhstan. This issue is particularly acute in the southern regions of the country, where there is a shortage of surface water sources and a significant portion of pastures is used extensively due to underdeveloped water supply infrastructure. One of the promising solutions to this problem is the use of groundwater for pasture irrigation and year-round livestock watering. The aim of this study is to assess the current state of water supply for pasture areas in southern Kazakhstan and to identify the potential for the sustainable use of groundwater. The article examines the natural-climatic and hydrogeological conditions of the region, analyzes spatial differences in water resource availability, and presents the results of field research. The study is based on scientific and technical materials from research conducted by the U.M. Akhmedsafin Institute of Hydrogeology and Geoecology in 2024. During field expeditions, route surveys of pasture lands were carried out, covering zones with varying degrees of water availability. Water samples were collected from wells and boreholes, followed by hydrogeochemical analysis under laboratory conditions. The results made it possible to determine the suitability of groundwater for livestock watering, to identify territorial differences in hydrogeological conditions, and to outline directions for improving the pasture watering system.

The purpose of this study is to provide scientific justification and geoinformation support for management decisions regarding the development and protection of groundwater deposits in the East Kazakhstan explored for irrigation. Field hydrogeochemical investigations, laboratory analyses of samples, and GIS-based mapping were carried out. A geoinformation-analytical subsystem was developed, maps of groundwater use were compiled, and the resource potential of groundwater was evaluated. The water was found to be suitable for irrigation (mineralization < 1 g/L), with potential application over an area of up to 54.74 thousand hectares. The study identified a high potential for sustainable water use under current low exploitation levels. The findings were validated by interlaboratory testing and a re-evaluation of archival data under modern conditions. The natural origin of the water without anthropogenic contamination was confirmed, which highlights its potential for irrigation purposes.

Groundwater is the principal water resource supporting pasture-based livestock production in the arid Mangystau and Atyrau regions of western Kazakhstan, where permanent surface-water availability is limited. This study integrated field surveys of groundwater infrastructure with hydrochemical analyses of 36 groundwater samples (24 from Mangystau and 12 from Atyrau) to evaluate groundwater quality, livestock-watering suitability, and the practical usability of existing water points. Mineralization ranged from 281 to 10,298 mg/L, demonstrating substantial source-level and within-region variability. Total mineralization did not differ significantly between the sampled sources of Mangystau and Atyrau. After correction for multiple regional comparisons, statistically significant differences were retained for sulfate and bicarbonate, with higher sulfate concentrations in Mangystau and higher bicarbonate concentrations in Atyrau. Ionic charge-balance assessment showed that 35 of 36 samples were within ±10%; one charge-imbalanced sample was excluded from charge-balance-dependent hydrochemical interpretation. Among the 35 QA/QC-accepted samples, mineralization was strongly associated with Na⁺ (Spearman ρ = 0.834, p = 5.06 × 10⁻¹⁰) and Cl⁻ (ρ = 0.843, p = 2.08 × 10⁻¹⁰), while Na⁺ and Cl⁻ showed very strong covariation (ρ = 0.952, p = 1.51 × 10⁻¹⁸). Together with a median molar Na/Cl ratio of 1.10 and the predominance of Na–Cl facies, these relationships are consistent with an important contribution from saline and evaporitic sedimentary materials to groundwater mineralization. Twelve sources contained ≥7000 mg/L TDS and require restricted, source-specific livestock use. Elevated nitrate and ammonium occurred at a subset of water points and are interpreted as localized water-quality concerns whose origin cannot be established from the present dataset. The results demonstrate that pasture-water management should prioritize source-specific groundwater-quality assessment, infrastructure maintenance, and sanitary protection rather than reliance on administrative-region averages alone.