1.1.1.WATER RESOURCES Based on the hydrographic systems, the country can be divided into four zones: a)the northern basin (24 per cent of the territory), with the Amu Darya and its tributaries (14 per cent), which drain towards the Aral sea, and the rivers of northern Afghanistan (10 per cent), which disappear within the country before joining the Amu Darya; b)the western region (12 per cent), consisting of the Hari Rud river basin (6 per cent) and the Murgab river basin (6 per cent), both rivers disappearing in Turkmenistan; c)the south-western basin (52 per cent), with the Helmand river flowing towards the Sistan swamps, located on the border of Iran and Afghanistan. In 1972, a document was signed between Afghanistan and Iran to allocate a discharge of 26m3/s of Helmand river water to Iran all year round; d)the eastern Kabul basin (12 per cent), which is the only river system having an outlet to the sea, joining the Indus at Attock in Pakistan. Internal renewable water resources are estimated at 55 km³/year. The Kunar river, which originates in Pakistan, crosses the border with an average annual flow of 10 km³ and joins the Kabul river at Jalalabad about 180 km further downstream. The Kabul river flows again into Pakistan 80 km further downstream.

1.1.2.WATER USE Total water withdrawal was estimated at 26.11km³ in 1987, of which 99 per cent was for agricultural purposes. Recently, there has been a large increase in groundwater use in some provinces. In 1986, there were two dams higher than 15m. The installed capacity of the hydroelectric plants was 281MW in 1992, which is about 70 per cent of the total installed capacity. There is considerable potential for the generation of hydropower, by both large dams and microhydropower stations.

1.2.WATER QUALITY, ECOSYSTEMS AND HUMAN HEALTH Due to the increasing use of groundwater in recent years, there is a risk of over-exploitation and depletion in the absence of regulating and licensing authorities, which in some places might lead to the drying out of kareze or qanats, springs and wells that depend on the same water sources. Other environmental problems include: limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution. Nationwide, the majority of Afghan households do not have access to safe drinking water. Because of unsafe sanitary facilities, water contamination is a major issue in Afghanistan. Many water sources are contaminated with harmful bacteria such as E.coli which sickens and kills many people, especially children and the elderly. Valuable water resources are polluted as a result of the disposal of industrial and domestic liquid wastes. It's common for household discharge and street waste to end up in streams. Moreover, in some bodies of water, the proportions of hazardous chemicals fail hygiene standards. Even in the capital, Kabul, there are places where the water quality is so poor that it is unsafe for consumption.

( Water Risk Filter)