Kabul's Water Supply Expected to Deplete by 2030: Study Reveals
In the heart of Afghanistan, the capital city of Kabul is facing a severe water crisis. The city, home to six million people, is projected to run dry by 2030, a situation that could have far-reaching consequences for the region.
About half of Kabul's boreholes are now dry, and up to 80% of the groundwater is contaminated by sewage and waste pollution. This contaminated water frequently results in illnesses among the population, with gastrointestinal diseases being widespread. Ahmad Yasin, a 28-year-old resident, spent $550 on a 120-meter well, only to discover the water was unsafe to drink without boiling.
The water crisis in Kabul has escalated into a serious humanitarian and economic crisis. Many residents, like Raheela and her family, are dependent on expensive water tankers. The lack of safe water disrupts livelihoods and forces residents to divert time and resources to secure basic supplies. Hamed's 13- and 9-year-old children miss school to fetch water.
The situation in Kabul is exacerbated by Taliban restrictions, which place additional burdens on women, reducing their mobility and increasing the risk of harassment. The city annually extracts 44 million cubic meters more groundwater than it can resupply, according to a Mercy Corps report. Kabul's groundwater supplies have been depleted due to fast population increase, poor management, and climate change effects.
However, there is hope. Major infrastructure projects such as the construction of the Shahtoot dam and reservoir, which would supply drinking water to over 2 million residents and help recharge aquifers, are underway. Another initiative is building a 200-kilometer pipeline to divert water from the Panjshir River, potentially providing more than 100 million cubic meters annually to Kabul. These projects aim to bring in surface water to reduce reliance on over-extracted groundwater.
Addressing contamination problems is critical to secure safe drinking water. International communities can support these efforts by providing financial and technical aid to complete infrastructure projects, assisting in water management reforms and governance improvements, supporting capacity building for local water authorities and experts, facilitating contamination control measures, encouraging initiatives to increase awareness and sustainable water usage among Kabul’s population, and coordinating regional cooperation for water sharing if feasible.
Unfortunately, the water sector remains underdeveloped and mismanaged, with past foreign investments not translating into sustainable improvement. The U.S. has decided to stop providing development funds in 2025, leaving a significant funding shortfall for addressing the water crisis in Kabul. Absent urgent international and local coordinated efforts, Kabul risks becoming the first capital city to run out of water by 2030, potentially displacing millions.
In conclusion, combining dam and pipeline projects with governance reform, contamination control, and international support focused on sustainable management are key to addressing Kabul’s water crisis before 2030. The future of Kabul's residents depends on the world's collective action.
- In light of the water crisis in Kabul, it is crucial to report on policies and legislation aimed at addressing this issue, especially in relation to environmental science and climate-change.
- To mitigate the contamination issues in Kabul's water supply, courses on environmental science and water management could be offered to enhance the skills of local authorities and water experts.
- As Kabul's water crisis is a serious humanitarian concern, general news outlets and media should given extensive coverage to this issue, highlighting the efforts being made to resolve it.
- In the political arena, discussions on the water crisis in Kabul should be a priority, as this issue intersects with environmental, social, and economic policies.
- In the realm of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting, corporations and investors should take into account the water crisis in Kabul when evaluating potential risks and opportunities in the region.
