KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan's capital is experiencing a severe water crisis as groundwater levels continue to plummet, leaving millions of residents struggling to access clean water. The city's aquifers have dropped 25-30 meters (80-100 feet) over the past decade, according to an April 2025 report by aid group Mercy Corps.

Kabul's population has more than doubled from 2.5 million in 2001 to an estimated 6 million people today. The rapid growth began with returning Afghan refugees after the Taliban's initial fall in 2001 and has accelerated since Pakistan and Iran began expelling Afghans in 2023. This population surge has intensified demand for water resources that were already under strain.

Climate change has worsened the situation by reducing snowfall and altering precipitation patterns. While the region now experiences more sudden heavy rainfall that causes flooding, less water reaches underground aquifers. Some wells must now be dug as deep as 150 meters to reach water, and in certain areas, shallow aquifers have run completely dry.

In neighborhoods like Deh Mazang, residents carry water from mosque wells or purchase it from vendors on three-wheeled motorcycles. The free water from community wells is often undrinkable and yellow in color, forcing many to buy potable water they can barely afford. Local resident Marofa, 52, described the physical toll: "These containers are heavy. We have no strength left in our backs, no strength left in our legs."

Afghan authorities acknowledge the crisis and have implemented some measures, including restrictions on groundwater extraction by beverage companies and quotas for businesses. The government has also constructed check dams and absorption wells, completed the Shah wa Arous Dam in 2024, and removed sediment from the Qargha Dam to increase capacity.

However, two major projects that could significantly address the water shortage remain delayed. A pipeline from the Panjshir River and the Shah Toot Dam project could together provide water for approximately 4 million people. The Panjshir pipeline has an approved budget of roughly $130 million, while the dam project, originally planned as a joint Afghan-Indian initiative, faces funding delays and would take six to seven years to complete if construction begins.