HYDROGEOLOGIC STUDIES IN AFGHANISTAN IN SUPPORT OF MILITARY OPERATIONS AND LOCAL POPULATIONS

Afghanistan is a mountainous, arid country with limited surface water supplies. In many areas, water of sufficient quantity is available only by digging wells into unconsolidated alluvium aquifers located in mountain valleys. A lack of sustainable, potable water supplies can have a negative impact on both military forces and local populations. An understanding of hydrogeological conditions is required in order to minimize environmental health risks from both natural and anthropogenic sources of groundwater contamination.

In 2001, it was estimated that only 13 percent of the Afghan population had access to safe, potable water and by 2006 that number had risen to 22 percent. Both governmental and non-government organizations from around the world have worked tirelessly to increase this statistic. Initial efforts by U.S. and Coalition military forces to obtain adequate supplies of water were primarily concerned with military operations. Over time, more attention has been given to assisting the local population with their lack of sufficient water supplies. The U.S. military is working to develop hydrologic assessments of selected major watersheds of Afghanistan. Coordinated efforts by the U.S. military and U.S. Geological Survey have provided detailed hydrogeological data to the Afghanistan Geological Survey. This information is needed because in some areas the increased number of wells has led to competition for limited water resources and interference between wells. Additionally, U.S. military base camp wells are sampled annually for a large number of potential contaminants in order to protect the health of deployed personnel. Total Dissolved Solids, nitrates, sulfates, sodium, boron, and coliform bacteria are some of the contaminants which have been found in quantities exceeding military exposure guidelines. The military water quality data can augment other data sources and improve the understanding of local hydrogeology in order to increase access to safe drinking water for the Afghan people. By considering the potable water needs for both military operations and the local population, the work being conducted has the ability to make a greater impact in improving the overall situation in Afghanistan and will ultimately benefit the Afghan people.