Afghanistan Peace CampaignIn many neighborhoods across Kabul, families wait for hours for water tankers to arrive, while others are forced to buy water at high prices.
Kabul’s water shortage is worsening, leaving millions of residents struggling with limited access to drinking water, rising water costs, and growing concerns over the future of the city’s water resources.
The capital, which relies largely on groundwater for its drinking water supply, has in recent years experienced a sharp decline in groundwater levels, the drying up of hundreds of wells, and contamination of a significant portion of its water sources.
Abdul Hamid, a Kabul resident, said: “Water used to be found at depths of 10 to 20 meters. Now it has dropped to around 80, 100, and even 120 meters. People are facing serious difficulties, and the water is also polluted.”
Shah Zaman Farooqi, another Kabul resident, said: “We ask people to be mindful of their water consumption and avoid wasting water.”
In many neighborhoods across Kabul, families wait for hours for water tankers to arrive, while others are forced to buy water at high prices.
The rising cost of water has turned the shortage from an environmental challenge into a livelihood crisis, particularly for low-income families.
Ramesh, a Kabul resident, said: “People are facing water shortages and cannot afford to buy water. Someone who earns 100 afghanis a day cannot afford to purchase it.”
Naser Ahmad, another resident, said: “As the water shortage worsens, people are increasingly forced to buy water. The difficulties people face are growing.”
Experts attribute the crisis to rapid population growth, climate change, prolonged drought, excessive groundwater extraction, and weak water resource management.
Sayed Mohammad Sulaimankhail, an environmental expert, said: “In the short term, water needs to be transferred from other provinces to areas facing severe shortages.”
Meanwhile, projects aimed at improving water resource management and strengthening resilience to climate change are underway. The Kabul Water Supply Company says it has short-, medium-, and long-term plans to address the crisis.
Shafiullah Zahedi, head of the Kabul Water Supply and Sewerage Zone, said: “Our long-term projects include the Panjshir water project, the Shah wa Aroos Dam, and the Shah Toot Dam. Survey and design work for the Panjshir project is currently underway, funding has been allocated, and six government agencies are carrying out the initial stages.”
Kabul’s water shortage is no longer just an environmental issue. It has become a challenge for public health, the urban economy, and the human security of millions of residents—a crisis that requires long-term planning, effective management, and cooperation between domestic institutions and the international community.