Kabul Faces Potential Water Crisis as Groundwater Levels Plummet
Rapid urbanization and climate change contribute to a severe decline in water resources in Afghanistan's capital.
Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, may become the first modern city to face a complete water shortage, according to experts.
A report by the non-governmental organization Mercy Corps reveals that groundwater levels in the city have dropped by as much as 30 meters over the past decade due to rapid urbanization and climate change.
The report indicates that nearly half of the city’s wells, which serve as the primary source of drinking water for Kabul's residents, have dried up.
Water extraction is currently exceeding the natural replenishment rate by 44 million cubic meters per year.
If these trends continue, all of Kabul's aquifers could run dry by 2030, posing an existential threat to the city's population of seven million.
Dejan Kari, the head of Mercy Corps in Afghanistan, emphasizes the need for international attention to address this crisis.
He remarked that the lack of water leads to people leaving their communities, suggesting that without resolution from the international community concerning Afghanistan's water needs, it may result in increased migration and greater challenges for the Afghan population.
The report also highlights water contamination as a widespread issue, with up to 80 percent of the groundwater in Kabul considered unsafe for drinking due to high levels of fecal matter, salts, and arsenic.
Access to water has become a daily struggle for many residents in Kabul.
Some households reportedly spend up to 30 percent of their income on water, with over two-thirds of them incurring debts related to water access.
Nazifa, a teacher living in the Hair Kana neighborhood of Kabul, stated that Afghanistan faces numerous challenges, but the water shortage is among the most severe, particularly affecting low-income households.
She noted that adequate, quality well water is simply nonexistent.
In contrast, some private companies are exploiting the crisis by actively drilling new wells and extracting large quantities of public groundwater, which they then sell to residents at exorbitant prices.
A report by the non-governmental organization Mercy Corps reveals that groundwater levels in the city have dropped by as much as 30 meters over the past decade due to rapid urbanization and climate change.
The report indicates that nearly half of the city’s wells, which serve as the primary source of drinking water for Kabul's residents, have dried up.
Water extraction is currently exceeding the natural replenishment rate by 44 million cubic meters per year.
If these trends continue, all of Kabul's aquifers could run dry by 2030, posing an existential threat to the city's population of seven million.
Dejan Kari, the head of Mercy Corps in Afghanistan, emphasizes the need for international attention to address this crisis.
He remarked that the lack of water leads to people leaving their communities, suggesting that without resolution from the international community concerning Afghanistan's water needs, it may result in increased migration and greater challenges for the Afghan population.
The report also highlights water contamination as a widespread issue, with up to 80 percent of the groundwater in Kabul considered unsafe for drinking due to high levels of fecal matter, salts, and arsenic.
Access to water has become a daily struggle for many residents in Kabul.
Some households reportedly spend up to 30 percent of their income on water, with over two-thirds of them incurring debts related to water access.
Nazifa, a teacher living in the Hair Kana neighborhood of Kabul, stated that Afghanistan faces numerous challenges, but the water shortage is among the most severe, particularly affecting low-income households.
She noted that adequate, quality well water is simply nonexistent.
In contrast, some private companies are exploiting the crisis by actively drilling new wells and extracting large quantities of public groundwater, which they then sell to residents at exorbitant prices.
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