| Water Resources Assessment, Monitoring and Capacity Building | |
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The problem relates to water quantity and quality. In certain regions, depending on the local geology and geomorphology, adequate supplies are lacking. Furthermore, the drought in the previous 5 years led to a lowering of the water table and drying up of springs, karezes, and wells used for domestic water supply and irrigation. It is estimated that 20% of the domestic wells have been affected by the drought with up to 60% of the wells being affected in the southwestern provinces. In addition, the drilling of deeper wells in the affected areas has compounded the problem. Recently, more snow and rain has fallen which has improved the situation in the short term.
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In other areas, water quality is impacted because of the presence of open sewers, improperly sited or failing septic systems, uncontrolled disposal of waste by industry. Contamination with bacteria, nitrates and pesticides among other unidentified contaminants is thought to be widespread.
The general objectives of the water resources team of the USGS in collaboration with Afghan officials and scientists are to:
- Assess the basic hydrology of Afghanistan
- Install a network of stream gages
- Create a water-quality monitoring program
- Assess water use in specific population centers
- Build capacity of Afghan officials, scientists, and technicians.
- Estimate the amount of safe water available for use in key population centers
- Identify water sources in key areas currently lacking water supply.
Activities have been carried out in close cooperation with Afghan water officials and international agencies in an effort to address immediate needs by starting to create a well trained, self-sufficient, and sustainable water-resources sector in Afghanistan. The general approach includes:
- Building the capacity of local Afghan scientists, technicians, and officials to monitor, assess, and manage the water resources of Afghanistan.
- Providing training, equipment, and supplies.
- Strengthening existing institutions including Ministries and local Universities
- Developing a national, regional, or local water-resources database.
As part of the initial 6-month efforts, the USGS interdisciplinary water team has worked on the ground, especially in the Kabul area, in close collaboration with Afghan officials and Afghan scientists, engineers, and technicians of the Afghan Geological Survey and other international organizations and NGOs interested in water-resources issues in Afghanistan. Not only has the USGS water team been involved in scientific efforts but a lot of emphasis has been on comprehensive on-the-job training programs (capacity building) with involvement of Afghan scientists, engineers, and technicians in project activities.
The USGS water team successes have included:
- Supplying Afghans with the necessary equipment and tools to aid them in assessing, monitoring, and managing their water resources in the future.
- Water-quality and ground-water monitoring in the Kabul area.
- Assessment of rivers and evaluation of location for demonstration gage. Surface-water and ground-water assessments in Helmand Valley have been initiated.
- Successful meetings with Ministries, NGOs, and Universities to encourage collaboration among ministries and other organizations.
Project Subtasks
Surface Water Subtasks
- Characterization of the 1991 flood in the Helmand Basin.
- A recovery of historic surface-water quantity data of the Helmand River.
- A time series of the Helmand River.
- Installation and demonstration of a surface water gage.
- Potential effects of changing glaciers on resources and hazards.
Ground Water and Water Quality Subtasks
Other Efforts
- Enhancement of Water-Table and Water-Quality Monitoring
- Efforts of the Hydro-Geology group of the Afghanistan Geology Survey
Project Partners
 Meeting at Ministry of Water and Energy |
 Meeting at Kabul Poly-Technical University |
 Rainwater gage near Kabul | |
