Fake claims of Israeli control spark debate as Almaty water tariffs double

A wave of misinformation on Kazakh social media claimed that Israel had taken control of Almaty’s water supply, a story quickly refuted by the city’s water utility, Almaty Su, which said Israeli firm Mekorot only assisted in drafting a masterplan. The false narrative diverted attention from the actual policy change: on October 1, water tariffs rose to KZT 178.06 per cubic metre and wastewater charges to KZT 119.46, more than double previous rates.

Authorities explained the increase as necessary to cover rising maintenance, labor, electricity costs and to fund infrastructure upgrades. The tariff hike ends a temporary moratorium that began in September 2025 to shield consumers from inflation. Analysts warn that higher utility prices in Kazakhstan’s largest city could pressure national inflation and limit the central bank’s ability to cut interest rates further.