In recent days, social media has been actively circulating reports that Shymkent is planning to increase water tariffs. Furthermore, some claim that Su Resurstary-Marketing has already been fully transferred to state ownership, meaning tariffs should therefore decrease.

However, city authorities issued an official statement emphasizing that such information is untrue and misleads the public.

The false publications on social media were based on two main theses:

1. Water prices will rise in the near future.

2. The company "Su Resources-Marketing" has become state-owned, which means tariffs should decrease.

In fact, both versions are far from the truth. As the Akimat noted, no decisions have been made to increase tariffs, and the company's status is still being reviewed in court. A final decision will be made later.

In an official statement, the Shymkent City Akimat stated that tariff setting is the responsibility of authorized bodies—the Committee for the Regulation of Natural Monopolies of the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Any tariff changes are subject to public discussion and then approved in accordance with established procedures.

Therefore, there will be no hidden or "sudden" increase in water prices. All talk of price increases is pure speculation.

Furthermore, the authorities emphasized that disseminating false information is a violation of the law. Under current Kazakh legislation, disseminating false information is punishable by administrative and criminal penalties.

Stories about potential utility rate increases appear on social media almost every year. This is due to the public's high sensitivity to utility cost issues.

For example, in 2019, rumors were already circulating in Shymkent that water tariffs would increase following discussions about the privatization or nationalization of the company "Su Resurstary-Marketing." The Akimat also had to intervene to clarify the situation.

There were similar examples in other regions:

• Almaty, 2022. Messages circulated on messaging apps about a sharp increase in the price of drinking water. Authorities denied this information, explaining that rates would remain unchanged.

• Nur-Sultan, 2021. Residents of the capital discussed rumors about rising heating and hot water rates. Then the Committee for the Regulation of Natural Monopolies issued an official statement that no decisions had been made.

These cases show that tariff misinformation is not an isolated incident, but a recurring trend.

The rumors center on the company "Su Resources-Marketing." The question of its ownership is frequently debated: should it remain privately owned or be transferred to state control?

This issue is currently being reviewed by the courts. Until a final decision is made, any assertions that the company has already become state-owned are premature and inaccurate.

Economists note that even if the company is transferred to the state, tariffs will not be automatically reduced. Price formation depends on a number of factors: infrastructure maintenance and modernization costs, water quality, energy consumption, and other expenses.

Lawyers remind us that Kazakhstan has strict penalties for disseminating false information. Depending on the severity of the consequences, this can range from an administrative fine to criminal prosecution.

Such measures are necessary to protect society from panic and maintain trust in official information. Experts believe that, with social media becoming the primary source of news for most citizens, any disinformation could cause widespread repercussions.

Media experts emphasize that citizens should be more attentive to information, especially when it comes to utility rates and prices. The best way to check news is through the official websites of government agencies, akimats, relevant ministries, or through official social media accounts.

Furthermore, the media and government agencies themselves must respond promptly to rumors to stop their spread at an early stage. The longer disinformation goes unanswered, the more people are likely to believe it.

The rumors surrounding rising water rates in Shymkent once again demonstrate the importance of trusting only trusted sources. City authorities have officially stated that rates are not increasing, and the fate of Su Resurstary-Marketing remains unresolved, as legal proceedings are ongoing.

Experience from previous years shows that such information waves occur regularly and spread quickly through social media. However, official bodies always deny them, urging citizens to exercise information caution.

So the authorities' key message remains unchanged: don't believe rumors, check the facts, and trust only official sources.