Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, is facing a critical water shortage that’s putting nearly seven million residents at risk. Over the past decade, groundwater levels have dropped by as much as 30 meters due to a mix of rapid urban population growth, unregulated well drilling, and declining precipitation tied to climate change.
Almost half of the city’s boreholes—a primary source of drinking water—have run dry. Families are now spending up to 30% of their monthly income on water alone, with many forced into debt just to meet basic needs. Making matters worse, nearly 80% of Kabul’s groundwater is contaminated by sewage, arsenic, and high salinity, posing serious public health threats like cholera and other waterborne illnesses.
Local residents, such as Mohammad Agha, describe waiting hours for access to water, often sending children and women to collect buckets from scarce sources.
The United Nations has issued repeated warnings: without swift, large-scale investment, Kabul’s aquifers could run dry by 2030, potentially displacing millions and triggering a full-scale humanitarian disaster.
Frustration is boiling over on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where citizens are calling on the Taliban-led government to act. A proposed $170 million infrastructure project—meant to divert water from the Panjshir River to Kabul, benefiting around two million people—remains stalled due to lack of funding, despite being fully designed.
Experts and NGOs emphasize the urgent need for sustainable water management strategies, including conservation campaigns, tighter regulation of private water vendors, and long-term investment in water infrastructure to prevent Kabul from becoming uninhabitable.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 19th, 2025
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