Water shortage imminent in Kabul by 2030: Study

In the heart of Afghanistan, the city of Kabul is grappling with a severe water crisis that has escalated into a humanitarian and economic catastrophe. The rapid population growth, poor management, and the increasing effects of climate change have depleted the groundwater in Kabul, leaving many families dependent on expensive water tankers they cannot afford.

Residents like Ahmad Yasin, a resident of Kabul, have spent fortunes on wells, only to discover that the water is unsafe to drink without boiling. The widespread contamination of groundwater in Kabul has led to a surge in gastrointestinal illnesses, affecting many, including Raheela, a 42-year-old mother of four, who worries about access to water for basic necessities.

The Mercy Corps report states that Kabul annually extracts 44 million cubic meters more groundwater than it can resupply. This alarming situation is further exacerbated by the decreased snowfall and glacier melt in the Hindu Kush Mountains, which used to replenish the city's water supplies.

The bleak possibility of families like Raheela's being uprooted without any obvious safety exists. This crisis runs the risk of causing mass migration, further destabilizing Kabul, and increasing humanitarian demands throughout the region. The lack of safe water disrupts livelihoods and forces residents to divert time and resources to secure basic supplies.

Up to 80% of the groundwater in Kabul is contaminated by sewage and waste pollution, frequently resulting in illnesses. The Taliban restrictions place additional burdens on women in Kabul, reducing their mobility and raising the risk of harassment. Hamed's 13- and 9-year-old children miss school to fetch water in Kabul.

However, there is hope. Proposed solutions for Kabul’s water crisis focus on urgent intervention to replenish and secure sustainable water supplies amid severe aquifer depletion, infrastructure failure, and political challenges.

Key proposed solutions include bringing in surface water from other basins, regulating and reducing unregulated groundwater extraction, restoring and upgrading water infrastructure, investing in groundwater recharge projects, and international cooperation and renewed aid efforts. Without such measures, projections warn that Kabul could become the first modern capital to run completely dry by 2030, potentially displacing millions and increasing conflict over water.

The city currently relies heavily on aging Soviet-era water systems and truck deliveries, which are increasingly insufficient as wells dry up and contamination rises. The combination of climate impacts, population growth to about six million, and poor management demands immediate comprehensive action to prevent this humanitarian disaster.

Despite the urgency, only $8 million of the $264 million required for water and sanitation has been provided, leaving a significant funding shortfall. The international community must come together to support Kabul in addressing this crisis and prevent a catastrophic future for its six million inhabitants.

ESG reporting and environmental science indicate the dire situation in Kabul, where climate change has exacerbated a water crisis, leading to gastrointestinal illnesses and threats of mass migration.
The city's dependence on expensive water tankers and contaminated groundwater has affected many, such as Raheela, a 42-year-old mother of four, who worries about water scarcity for basic necessities.
Sustainability courses and policy-and-legislation seminars may offer insights into tackling Kabul's water crisis, which entails replenishing groundwater supplies, infrastructure repairs, and groundwater recharge projects.
Sci-tech events focusing on climate-change solutions can offer innovative approaches to address Kabul's water problems, as the city struggles with groundwater depletion, infrastructure failure, and political challenges.
General-news outlets should highlight Kabul's water crisis, raising awareness about the importance of international cooperation and renewed aid efforts, to prevent the catastrophic potential of the city running dry by 2030.
Amid the political landscape of Afghanistan, it is crucial for the international community to invest in Kabul's water infrastructure, ensuring access to clean water for its six million inhabitants, thus reducing political tensions caused by water scarcity.