The railway sector is the largest branch of the economy in Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, environmental safety issues and the reduction and prevention of harmful impacts are not given sufficient attention. There is very little research on the impact of the railway sector of Kazakhstan on the natural environment, which hinders the further development of the railway sector and thus necessitates the addressal of environment issues. This study aimed to show possible environmentally hazardous sections of the country’s railway infrastructure. The criteria chosen for the analysis were soil cover, water resources, rainfall, protected natural areas, and population. A map of environmentally sensitive areas was created to determine which areas require priority protection from the environmental hazards posed by the country’s railway infrastructure. The map was developed in a GIS environment using the weighted overlay, expert assessment, and snowball methods. Additionally, a model for the Kazakhstan segment of the International Northern Railway Corridor was constructed in this article to identify integral indices that assess the susceptibility of the territory to environmental hazards. The data and results presented in the article can be used to solve current and future environmental issues concerning the country’s railway communications and can be implemented in many practical applications.

Water quality in rural areas of developing countries is a notable problem. In this article, drinking water quality from eleven villages in the Pavlodar and the Akmola region of Kazakhstan was analyzed. Questionnaires of village respondents and chemical components of drinking water were analyzed to identify the quality of drinking water. In each of the villages, the chemical content varied depending on the source of drinking water. In the rural Pavlodar region, we observed that some cations and anions exceed the MPC. Respondents’ perceptions of water quality are associated with water sources and physical components. For example, respondents’ satisfaction by inside tap of central water systems’ water was high, the answers of those whose water source was private wells showed more mixed satisfaction levels. The drinking water physical quality indicators are closely related to water mineralization and general hardness. The total microbial count of drinking water has a significant relationship with respondents’ complaints about unpleasant taste, odor, and salinity. The relationship between perceived and physical water quality is a critical aspect of water resource management. By bridging the gap between scientific assessments and public perceptions, we can enhance public health, build trust in water management systems, and promote sustainability of water use.

The article presents a performance audit of the use of budget funds allocated for rural water supply in Kazakhstan, focusing on Pavlodar and Akmola regions. The study is based on an analysis of the state programs "Aq Bulaq" and "Nurly Zher", official financing volumes, as well as the authors' own empirical data (household surveys and physicochemical water analysis). A performance audit approach was applied using the 3E criteria-economy, effectiveness, and efficiency. The findings show that despite significant investments, the actual water quality and the level of public satisfaction do not always match the stated objectives. The main reasons identified include project duplication, insufficient monitoring, weak feedback from the population, and the absence of local KPIs. Specific recommendations are proposed: introduction of a permanent performance audit mechanism, increased transparency and accountability of programs, and development of indicators for the socioeconomic impact of water infrastructure projects. The presented results will be of interest to government audit bodies, state auditors, and public sector managers.

The article deals with topical issues of environmental activities, problems of the impact of industrial enterprises on the environment, the exhaustibility and non-renewability of natural resources. The paper also discusses the features of the formation of the state environmental audit system in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the prerequisites for introducing the term “state environmental audit” into the economic conceptual apparatus, and analyzes the process of conducting this type of audit in developed countries. The paper discusses the participants of the system of state environmental audit in the Republic of Kazakhstan the levels of this type of audit are reviewed and the key points of the Concept of environmental safety are highlighted. The result of the study of this work was the proposal to develop a clear assessment criteria during the state environmental audit. According to the authors, these include: economic, environmental and social indicators of rationality and efficiency of use of natural resources. The main goal of state environmental auditors should not be control and accounting measures, but an assessment of the achievement of planned indicators, taking into account the efficiency of using natural resources that are state property

The article analyzes the conceptual foundations and methodology of performance audit of environmental protection programs in Kazakhstan, taking into account national priorities for sustainable development. The research addresses current challenges in evaluating the effectiveness of ecological initiatives, including the lack of harmonized indicators and regional disparities. Correlation and comparative analysis were conducted using regional data, particularly from Aktobe and East Kazakhstan regions. Specific efficiency indicators were calculated, and forecast scenarios of pollutant emissions until 2030 were developed. Special attention is given to the relationship between the amount of public funding and the achieved environmental outcomes. The findings highlight the need to develop regional assessment models, incorporate international best practices, and improve the national system of state environmental audit. The proposed approaches aim to enhance transparency and accountability in public environmental programs and can contribute to the implementation of sustainable development strategies at both national and regional levels.