Abstract
This article discusses the quality of water resources in the Zhaiyk-Caspian water management basin under current conditions. An analysis of the main approach to assessing the quality of surface waters, implemented through the Unified Classification System, was conducted. Based on data for 2019-2023, it was found that most rivers correspond to quality classes 3-5. In 2023, in certain water bodies, such as Shagan, Derkol, Zhaiyk, and Elek, the quality class changed to 1 and 2. Priority pollutants were also identified, including magnesium, chlorides, ammonium nitrogen, phenols, hexavalent chromium and lead, whose indicators vary by sampling site and depend on the nature of water use. The results of the study are of interest to environmental monitoring and water resources management in the region.