Kabul faces threat of becoming first modern city to run out of water, report warns

Kabul faces threat of becoming first modern city to run out of water, report warns
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Kabul faces a looming water crisis that could make it the first modern city to completely run out of water by 2030, The Guardian revealed according to a report by NGO Mercy Corps. Rapid urbanization and climate change have caused water levels in the city’s aquifers to drop by up to 30 meters over the past decade. Almost half of Kabul’s boreholes, the primary drinking water source, have dried up. Water extraction exceeds natural recharge rates by 44 million cubic meters annually, threatening the city’s seven million residents.

Compounding the crisis, up to 80% of Kabul’s groundwater is contaminated with sewage, salinity, and arsenic, making it unsafe for consumption. Many households spend up to 30% of their income on water, with over two-thirds incurring water-related debt. Private companies are exploiting the shortage by digging wells and selling water at inflated prices, doubling costs in some cases.

Kabul’s population has grown sevenfold since 2001, drastically increasing water demand amid a lack of centralized governance and regulation. International funding remains insufficient; only $8.4 million of the $264 million needed for water and sanitation programs was received in early 2025. Additionally, $3 billion in aid has been frozen since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, with recent US funding cuts worsening the situation.

Projects like the Panjshir River pipeline, designed to supply potable water to 2 million residents, await budget approval. Experts warn urgent action is needed to avoid irreversible damage and widespread hardship.