Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) – Kabul: The country’s capital has been facing water shortages for several years, making life difficult for thousands of city dwellers. Population growth, successive droughts, low rainfall, climate change, excessive water extraction and consumption, and poor management are among the main factors contributing to water shortages in Kabul.

Sayed Hussain Haidari, a resident of Kabul, told AVA that since 2002, the groundwater level has gradually decreased and water wells have dried up one after another.

He added: “Before 2002, the water level of wells in Kabul was high and we could reach water by digging six to seven meters. There were also karezs on the outskirts of the city from which clear water gushed out, but now drinking water is not available in many areas of the city.”

He believes that this situation is the result of the people’s own misbehavior, not the mercy of nature or God. He said: “With the increase in population in Kabul, everyone dug deep wells in their homes, built gardens, washed their homes with long hoses, and many car washes and bathrooms were built that used groundwater in an outrageous manner. The main cause of water shortage is the people themselves.”

However, Haidari adds that it is still not too late and every family must act responsibly and save water so that life in Kabul can continue.

 

Sayed Abdullah, a resident of Iftafa Township in western Kabul, also complains about the increase in water prices, saying: “Earlier, each cubic meter of water was 50 Afghanis, but now it has reached 100 Afghanis, if it is found. We are storing it for the coming days.”

 

He also pointed to the heating up of the water supply companies market, saying: “In some parts of Kabul, even water sales do not exist. Each cubic meter of water is sold to people for up to 200 or 300 Afghanis.”

 

He criticized previous governments, adding: “During Ashraf Ghani’s time, it was said that the water of the Panjshir River would be transferred to Kabul or that the Shah and Arous Dam would be built to feed groundwater resources, but no practical action has been taken so far.”

 

Are Kabul’s groundwater resources running out?

 

Along with citizens, international organizations and environmental experts have also warned that if the current situation continues, Kabul may lose its groundwater resources by 2030.

Hematullah Shirzai, an expert on environment and climate change, said in an interview with Ava: "One of the main reasons for the decline in Kabul's groundwater is climate change. In the past, rainfall occurred in the winter, but now it either does not occur or it occurs in inappropriate seasons and suddenly, which is not only not beneficial, but also causes flooding and destruction of farms."

He added that the expansion of urban development without a plan has caused areas that previously absorbed surface water to be covered with houses, asphalt, and paving, preventing water from being absorbed into the ground.

Shirzai also said: "Kabul city has a standard capacity of two million people, but now its population has reached 6 to 7 million people. This population increase has put a lot of pressure on water resources, while groundwater is being recharged less.”

He warned: “If this trend continues and rainfall levels do not increase, Kabul may completely lose its groundwater resources by 2030. UNICEF had previously estimated that this risk would become a reality within the next five years.”

 

Proposed solutions for Kabul water management

According to Sherzai, the first step is to manage surface water so that this water is absorbed into the ground and transferred to the groundwater table, because there is no more water below a thousand meters and it is not possible to extract it.

He warned that sewage wells in the absence of canalization have polluted groundwater resources and in many areas of Kabul, water is not even suitable for drinking. Therefore, the construction of standard toilets should also be prioritized.

Sherzai stressed that the government should work with the people and strengthen environmental awareness. He said, “A culture of planting saplings and creating green spaces can help absorb surface water.”

In his opinion, the government should formulate a specific policy for water consumption so that large consumers, such as bathrooms, factories, and car washes, are controlled and fined in case of overconsumption.

Sherzai concluded by saying, “People should not attribute everything to fate. What has happened to us today is the result of our own actions. Every family should review the amount of water consumed and avoid waste. The public mentality should change towards protecting the environment, preserving agriculture, increasing green cover, and directing surface water to the ground. Otherwise, life will become more difficult every day.”

He noted that Afghanistan is currently the sixth most vulnerable country to climate change, and this fact should not be ignored. The government and the people must take serious and immediate action.