Archive · 20 Jul 2025
Kabul Faces Water Crisis: City Could Run Dry by 2030
Imagine a city, Kabul, where almost half of the wells have run dry.
This is because people are taking out water from the ground faster than it can be replaced.
The city has grown a lot, and now everyone needs water.
But the weather is changing, so there's less water coming from the mountains.
This means the city might run out of water in about five years, making it difficult for people to drink clean water and live healthy lives.
The situation is getting worse because of politics and aid cuts that stopped important projects.
Kabul is facing a severe water crisis with nearly half of its wells dried up.
The city extracts 44 million cubic meters more groundwater annually than is replenished.
Experts warn Kabul could run out of water by 2030 if current trends continue.
Up to 80% of Kabul's groundwater is contaminated, causing public health concerns.
Climate change, population growth, and political instability are exacerbating the crisis.
- Who
- Residents of Kabul and experts, including Mercy Corps.
- What
- Kabul is facing a severe water crisis with potential exhaustion of groundwater by 2030.
- When
- The water crisis is ongoing, with potential depletion of water by 2030 if trends continue.
- Where
- Kabul, Afghanistan
- Why
- Due to over-extraction, rapid population growth, climate change, mismanagement, and political instability.
- Population Growth
- Significant increase since 2001
- Groundwater Extraction
- 44 million cubic meters more than replenishment annually
- Contamination
- Up to 80% of groundwater is contaminated
- Water Source
- Primarily groundwater
- Affected
- Health and humanitarian crisis
- Aid
- Decline in foreign aid after Taliban's return