Status of groundwater resource potential and its quality at Kabul, Afghanistan: a review

Noori, Ali Reza; Singh, S. K.

doi:10.1007/s12665-021-09954-3

Cited by 23 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Moreover, irrigation water-use efficiency measures should be improved in the region. In addition, there are some potential water resources within the Kabul Basin that could be used (JICA 2011;Zaryab et al 2017;Saffi 2019;Noori and Singh 2021a) such as the Maidan River (Shatood Dam), Panjshir River, Salang River and the Panjshir fan aquifer. Supplying water from these resources may reduce the stress on the Kabul aquifers.…”

Section: Water-table Fluctuationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, rainwater and runoff harvesting through recharge pits, recharge trenches and recharge wells can be used for groundwater recharge of Kabul aquifer during rainy seasons (Hussain et al 2019;Noori and Singh 2021a). It should be noted that harvested rainwater should firstly be used to alleviate water shortages in the households and only secondly to recharge the aquifer.…”

Section: Water-table Fluctuationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effects of urbanization on the groundwater system of the Kabul shallow aquifers, Afghanistan

2022

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The capital city of Afghanistan, Kabul, has experienced rapid urbanization since the end of 2001. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of rapid urbanization on the Kabul aquifer system, which is the main source of water for domestic, agricultural and industrial use in the area. Satellite imagery, groundwater levels and rainfall historical data were analyzed in conjunction with physico-chemical parameters that were measured at 27 water wells located in the Kabul Plain in 2020. Land-cover maps indicate that the urban surface area increased by 40% between 2000 and 2020, whilst the agricultural surface area simultaneously decreased by 32%. Meanwhile the Kabul Plain has globally experienced a severe decrease in groundwater levels (-0.8 m/year on average, and a fall of 60 m in some places) due to overabstraction, which has also seen changes in groundwater flow directions. Hydrochemistry, on the other hand, reveals that chloride concentrations and salinity increased throughout the aquifer between 2005 and 2020, while the nitrate concentration decreased in most places of the Kabul Plain over the considered period. The results suggest that rapid urbanization has had serious detrimental effects on both groundwater quantity and quality. Without urgent preventive policy and the implementation of effective practices, groundwater resource depletion and groundwater quality deterioration in the Kabul shallow aquifers are likely to continue in the future.

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Section: Water-table Fluctuationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Water-table Fluctuationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of urbanization on the groundwater system of the Kabul shallow aquifers, Afghanistan

2022

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“…With the depletion of groundwater resources and substantial losses in surface water reservoirs through evaporation, the restoration of groundwater aquifers can be a strategy to enhance the sustainability of the groundwater resources in the Kabul Plain aquifer within the Upper Indus River Basin (UIRB) (Figure 1). Previous studies show a decreasing trend in groundwater levels and deteriorating groundwater quality [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Therefore, improved groundwater management is needed to ensure an adequate water supply to the expanding city.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Recharges Suitability in Kabul Aquifer System within the Upper Indus Basin

Mahdawi

Sagin

Absametov

et al. 2022

Water

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Groundwater is the main source of water for drinking, household use, and irrigation in Kabul; however, the water table is dropping due to the excessive extraction over the past two decades. The groundwater restoration criteria selection mainly depends on the techniques used to recharge the aquifer. The design of infiltration basins, for example, requires different technical criteria than the installation of infiltration wells. The different set of parameters is relevant to water being infiltrated at the surface in comparison with water being injected into the aquifers. Restoration of the groundwater resources are complicated and expensive tasks. An inexpensive preliminary investigation of the potential recharge areas, especially in developing countries such as Afghanistan with its complex Upper Indus River Basin, can be reasonably explored. The present research aims to identify the potential recharge sites through employing GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and combining remote sensing information with in situ and geospatial data obtained from related organizations in Afghanistan. These data sets were employed to document nine thematic layers which include slope, drainage density, rainfall, distance to fault, distance to river channel, lithology, and ground water table, land cover, and soil texture. All of the thematic layers were allocated and ranked, based on previous studies, and field surveys and extensive questionnaire surveys carried out with Afghan experts. Based on the collected and processed data output, the groundwater recharge values were determined. These recharge values were grouped into four classes assessing the suitability for recharge as very high (100%), high (63%), moderate (26%), and low (10%). The relative importance of the various geospatial layers was identified and shows that slope (19.2%) is the most important, and faults (3.8%) the least important. The selection of climatic characteristics and geological characteristics as the most important criteria in the artificial recharge of the aquifer are investigated in many regions with good access to data and opportunities for validation and verifications. However, in regions with limited data due to the complexities in collecting data in Afghanistan, proper researching with sufficient data is a challenge. The novelty of this research is the cross-disciplinary approach with incorporation of a compiled set of input data with the set of various criteria (nine criteria based on which layers are formed, including slope, drainage density, rainfall, distance to fault, distance to river channel, lithology, ground water table, land cover, and soil texture) and experts’ questionnaires. The AHP methodology expanded with the cross-disciplinary approach by adding the local experts´ questionnaires survey can be very handy in areas with limited access to data, to provide the preliminary investigations, and reduce expenses on the localized expensive and often dangerous field works.

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“…According UNHCR report published in Nov 2017, since 2002 over 5.2 million refugees mainly from neighbor countries have arrived back to Afghanistan, which more than 68% of them returned to Kabul and 4 other provinces (mostly to Kabul)1. This made Kabul city to a rapid urbanized city and was the fifth fastest-growing city in the world as of 2012 [9][10][11][12][13] .…”

Section: Introductionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urbanization impact in terms of quality and quantity of groundwater: Case study of Kabul city

Sediqmal,

Seddiqi,

Turabi

et al. 2022

Int. J. Adv. Acad. Stud.

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Urbanization is a major geomorphic process affecting both surface and groundwater systems. The development of cities inevitably increases paved surfaces and roofs (termed impervious cover) and storm drains. Installation of a network of subsurface structures, including utility systems, is another necessary aspect of modern cities. Urbanization alters topography and natural vegetation, stream flows and flooding characteristics, temperatures both above and below the land surface. Major physical changes to the groundwater system include changes in water table elevation, changes in permeability field created by construction and utility system emplacement and altered groundwater recharge. Groundwater in Kabul city is in serious risk due to over obstruction, severe contamination by sewage and lack of recharge from participation as grounds natural form has changed to paved streets, roads and roofs which prevents storm water infiltration. In recent years Kabul has changed to a populated and rapid urbanized city worldwide which 85% of water supply in this city rely on groundwater which mainly obstruct from private shallow wells, beside many private water supply companies and households have deep wells with a depth of more than 200 m. Lack of control and policies from government or corruption makes facing this vital issue more challenging. Also lack of Sanitation wastewater collection, disposal and treatment system in the city and seepage of wastewater and directly absorbed by ground making it the main source of pollution for groundwater. This research analysis describes the status and trends of Kabul city groundwater system and assess new solutions to meet future groundwater conservation. Results from analyzed data shows that groundwater levels are declining quickly (2.1 m per year) which district number 11, 4, 12, 13, 18 and some other districts are more affected to groundwater depletion than others. This pollution exceeds the maximum permissible values determined by WHO, ANSA and other standards.

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Status of groundwater resource potential and its quality at Kabul, Afghanistan: a review

Cited by 23 publications

References 61 publications

The effects of urbanization on the groundwater system of the Kabul shallow aquifers, Afghanistan

The effects of urbanization on the groundwater system of the Kabul shallow aquifers, Afghanistan

Water Recharges Suitability in Kabul Aquifer System within the Upper Indus Basin

Urbanization impact in terms of quality and quantity of groundwater: Case study of Kabul city

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