Residents in Kabul have voiced complaints about severe water shortages in the city. They say that the scarcity of clean water and its unpleasant taste have forced many capital residents to spend a large portion of their daily income on purchasing water. In many neighborhoods, even bottled or mineral water is difficult to find. Meanwhile, experts warn that the continued over-extraction of groundwater, the absence of an effective water distribution system, and the effects of climate change are putting Kabul at risk of severe drought and land subsidence.
Many Kabul residents say the water shortage crisis has made their lives harder than ever. According to them, the lack of water and limited access to clean water have become among the most serious daily challenges they face.
Zohal Sohrab, a resident of the Taimani area in Kabul, says her family has had no access to clean water for more than eight years. According to her, the city’s piped water is very dirty and unfit for use. She says, “It’s been about eight or nine years since we’ve had clean water. Even the piped water was so dirty and somewhat smelly that we thought it was coming from sewage. That’s why we are forced to buy water.”
She adds that accessing clean water is a major challenge. When water tankers or bottled water do not arrive on time, they must walk long distances to fetch water.
She continues, “One of our neighbors has a deep well and a storage tank, and he provides water to people for free. When the tanker or bottled water doesn’t arrive, my brother goes to get in line, but sometimes when it’s finally our turn, the power goes out, or the storage runs dry. Even at 12:30 or 1:00 a.m., when we need water, we send my brothers to check if there’s any water left.”
Marwa Jabbari, another resident of the Taimani Project area in Kabul, also complains about the water shortage. However, unlike Zohal, she says their water is not dirty but salty, making it unsuitable for drinking or cooking.
She says, “These days, the water shortage has become one of our most serious challenges, deeply affecting our lives. Everything depends on water, from bathing to cooking. Our water was muddy for a while, but now it’s clear.”
Marwa adds, “We use tap water. The water in our area is salty; only a few parts of the Taimani Project may have fresh water, but most areas have salty water. We use filtered water instead.”
Mahnaz, another woman, criticizes the excessive use of water by residents, saying that one way to mitigate the crisis is to use water more efficiently. She adds that as water becomes scarce, poverty also deepens.
She explains, “When there’s a shortage of water, living expenses increase, and people face many difficulties. I believe people play an important role in preventing water shortages. If every person conserves water and plays their part, this crisis can be eased.”
At the same time, some experts say urgent measures are needed to contain this crisis. According to them, if not managed properly, water scarcity could have serious economic consequences as well.
Shakir Yaqubi, an economic expert, says that when people talk about the water crisis, most think it only concerns drinking or household water. He adds that this crisis acts like a silent chain, first affecting agriculture, then food markets, then production, and eventually employment, suffocating the economy as a whole.
Yaqubi explains, “The agricultural sector is the first to suffer because water shortages lead to reduced crop yields and higher prices. Food processing factories, beverage companies, small poultry farms, and even construction projects all depend heavily on water for their operations.”
The economic expert adds, “When there’s no water, production declines, exports decrease, and imports rise. Money leaves the country, and domestic economic circulation weakens. In such a situation, investors become very cautious, as basic infrastructure like water is unreliable, reducing the desire to invest inside the country.”
Sayed Mohammad Suleimankhil, an environmental expert, warns that if the water crisis remains unaddressed in the long term, it could trigger serious economic and health problems, as well as increase tensions between different social groups. He also warned about the risk of land subsidence, saying that in areas where groundwater has been heavily used, land sinking is likely to occur in the future.
Suleimankhil stresses, “If groundwater extraction continues at this pace, while Kabul’s population keeps rising and more high-rise buildings are being constructed, the lack of an effective water supply system and the impact of climate change will soon cause land subsidence in Kabul. When underground water tables dry up, voids form beneath the surface, eventually causing the ground to sink.”
Referring to the Panjshir Water Transfer Project and the Shah-Tut Dam as potential relief measures, he says, “Serious investment is needed in water supply infrastructure. Imagine if water from Panjshir were brought to Kabul, how would it be distributed among residents when there’s still no effective city pipeline system? This requires strong management and major investment. Currently, only about 10 percent of Kabul is connected to the state water network; the rest have no access at all.”
Water scarcity in Kabul is not a new phenomenon. However, since the Taliban’s takeover, the massive return of migrants, unregulated construction, and the absence of clear urban planning and standards have all worsened the crisis.
Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that drought is threatening families across Afghanistan. It has been stated that water sources have dried up and farmland can no longer produce crops.
At the same time, Mercy Corps has announced that Afghanistan is on the brink of a nationwide water crisis. It says that millions of Afghanistan citizens returning from Iran and Pakistan are putting immense pressure on the country’s fragile water systems. According to the organization’s report, Kabul could face complete water scarcity by 2030.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
کابل در بحران بیآبی؛ هشدار درباره فرونشست زمین و تهدید معیشت مردم
