Abstract
Kazakhstan’s water sector faces growing pressure from structural water scarcity, aging infrastructure, reliance on transboundary resources, and the high carbon intensity of conventional treatment systems. This review assesses environmental assessment approaches applied to water treatment, focusing on their suitability for low-carbon solutions and relevance to Kazakhstan. Following PRISMA, peer-reviewed literature indexed in Scopus and Web of Science from 2005 to 2025 was screened and 40 studies synthesized. Life Cycle Assessment is the dominant methodological framework in the reviewed literature and is commonly used to quantify global warming potential, energy intensity, and trade-offs across impact categories. Reverse osmosis and advanced membrane systems are frequently reported as relatively low-carbon options, but their life-cycle performance is highly sensitive to energy supply and pumping requirements, which emerge as major emission hotspots. Kazakhstan-specific research is limited and methodologically heterogeneous, limiting robust national assessments because regional life-cycle inventory data and local energy mix and climatic considerations are scarce. The review shows that technical feasibility alone does not ensure low-carbon outcomes - regionally adapted and standardized assessment frameworks are required to evaluate trade-offs, guide technology selection, and inform policy. Harmonized, context-sensitive methodologies will support evidence-based decisions and accelerate Kazakhstan’s transition to sustainable, low-carbon water management.