OVERVIEW

The Kabul Urban Water Supply (KUWS) project, implemented by the German Development Bank (KfW) at the request of the Afghan government, is building the water infrastructure to pipe drinking water to 50 percent of Kabul city residents. The current water system, operated by the Afghanistan Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Company, supplies less than 20 percent of the population. The KUWS project is improving the water system, reducing health risks, and improving livelihoods for Kabul residents.

The KUWS project constitutes one component of a four-phase program, of which KfW is the lead financier. USAID is providing $20 million for a portion of the second phase, which is constructing and installing new wells, a pumping station, and a drinking water storage reservoir. Other contributions include $56.3 million from KfW and $13.5 million from the French Development Agency. The donors signed the financing agreement in March 2014. A precondition of the donors to begin implementation was the passage of regulations by the Afghan government to provide legal protection for the land around the aquifer. The Afghan government passed these regulations in October 2015. Construction is expected to begin in August 2017 and to be completed in 2019.

ACTIVITIES

• Construct and install new wells and a pumping station at the Logar II well field, one of several major sources of Kabul’s water
• Construct a new 5,000 m3  capacity water storage reservoir, including the installation of the tanks, piping, valves, and electrical systems
• Install water transmission pipes and pump station for water distribution

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Approximately 135,000 more Kabul residents will have access to drinking water that meets World Health Organization quality standards
• Reduce health risks and improve livelihoods by improving water quality and increasing availability of water in supply area to 24 hours/day
• The Afghan government will have designated water protection zones and adopted protection measures for the drainage area of the Logar well