The impact of postwar urban development on the groundwater quality in Kabul City, Afghanistan

Abstract

Afghanistan has an old history of urban planning in Central Asia and has been affected by its nearly two decades of war. The conflict has made its adverse effect on the overall living conditions of people, urban planning systems, and environmental issues. However, since 2001, many major cities of the country have faced rapid population and urbanization growth, especially Kabul due to the returning of emigrants and the internal displacement of persons. The population of Kabul city has significantly increased, where about 70% of the residents living in informal settlements, and nearly 72.5% of the inhabitants do not have access to the piped water supply network. Thus, Kabul city drinking water is mainly being supplied by shallow wells of groundwater. Likewise, proper sanitation and its treatment system do not exist in the city. This resulted in a substantial increase in different types of environmental challenges, including the decline of water quality and quantity. Besides, the groundwater pollution associated infection also increased among the citizen, and the groundwater quality showed a negative path due to increases in pollution. Therefore, the main purposes of this study are 1) to investigate the impact of post-war urban development on groundwater quality, 2) to analyse the residents’ perceptions about water quality, and 3) to determine the specific recommendations regarding the groundwater quality. To achieve the objectives of this study, the primary and secondary data consisting of both urban development and water quality were collected and analysed. The primary data consisted of survey questionnaires circulated to 429 individuals, which covers the residents’ perceptions about water quality, sources of water pollution, the impact of urban development on water quality, and recommendations about the water quality protections. While the secondary data consisted of existing data concerning the 1) pre and post-war urban development of Kabul city, 2) major sources of water pollution identified by the National Environmental Protection Agency of Afghanistan (NEPA), 3) the 54 water supply wells water quality test results for physical and chemical attributes of Kabul city groundwater collected from the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW), and 4) about 450 water quality test results for biological characteristics of Kabul city groundwater achieved from Afghanistan Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Corporation (AUWSSC). The data was analysed using the SPSS and GIS software and the results derived from analysing both primary and secondary data revealed that post-war urban development has negatively impacted the groundwater quality of the Kabul city. Also, the rapid population growth, septic tank, pit latrine, storm water, watercolour, drainage, and water pollution are the main factors that contribute to the negative impact of urban development on groundwater quality. Meanwhile, nearly half of the respondents agreed on the Kabul city groundwater contamination. Therefore, this study recommends 1) construction of the Shahtoot dam as an alternative water supply source, 2) provision of the water treatment system for the water supply network, 3) undertaking awareness programs, 4) provision of proper water filtration method for household use, 5) groundwater management system, and 6) gradually increase access of the residents to sewerage system are the major factors that can help in protecting the groundwater quality in the city and that can also mitigate the adverse impact of the urban development on groundwater quality.