In Kabul, Residents Chase Receding Groundwater

May 20, 2018 | Kayla Ritter
View Original

Years of conflict coupled with an arid landscape have left residents of Kabul, Afghanistan, facing immense water shortages.

The capital city, which lies in the Kabul River Basin, is no stranger to water scarcity. Between the 1960s and early 2000s, groundwater levels fell by 6-7 meters in several parts of Kabul. Since then, water levels have continued to plummet.

Kabul’s water woes are driven by several forces. The city lies in a parched region prone to low rainfall and high temperatures. On average, Kabul receives a mere 362 mm (14 inches) of rainfall annually. Some years, the total is even lower. In 2001, the city recorded only 175 mm (6.9 inches) of precipitation.