Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the

Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5090

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS Afghanistan Project Product No. 001
COVER MONTAGE: Photographs by Robert E. Broshears, U.S. Geological Survey.
Inventory of Ground-Water Resources

in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

By Robert E. Broshears, M. Amin Akbari, Michael P. Chornack, David K. Mueller, 

and Barbara C. Ruddy

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development

Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5090
U.S. Department of the Interior

Gale A. Norton, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Charles G. Groat, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2005

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services

Box 25286, Denver Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225

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Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Broshears, R.E., Akbari, M.A., Chornack, M.P., Mueller, D.K., and Ruddy, B.C., 2005, Inventory of ground-water resources 

in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5090, 34 p.
 iii

Contents

Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Description of the Study Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Geographic Setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Geologic Framework. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Previous Hydrogeologic Investigations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Ground-Water Flow in the Kabul Basin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Ground-Water Quality of the Kabul Basin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Dissolved Solids, Specific Conductance, and Major Ion Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Oxidation-Reduction (Redox) Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Nitrate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Bacteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Sodium Adsorption Ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Boron. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Further Considerations for Ground-Water Use as Public Drinking Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Suggestions for Further Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

References Cited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Figures

1-6. Maps showing:

1. Location of Afghanistan and Kabul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2. Study area of Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, with major surface-water features. . . . . . 3

3. (a) Geology of the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, (b) Generalized section

of hydrogeologic units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

4. Location of wells in the ground-water inventory in the Kabul Basin,

Afghanistan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

5. Water table in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004. . . . . . 13

6. Depth to ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through

November 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

7. Boxplot of concentrations of dissolved solids in ground water in the Kabul Basin,

Afghanistan, July through November 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

8. Map showing spatial distribution of concentrations of dissolved solids in

ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004 . . . . . . . . . 16

9. Boxplot of specific conductance in ground water in the Kabul Basin,

Afghanistan, July through November 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

10. Map showing spatial distribution of specific conductance in ground water in

the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
iv 

11. Piper diagram of samples from ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan,

July through November 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

12. Boxplot of major ion concentrations in ground water in the Kabul Basin,

Afghanistan, July through November 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

13. Radial plots of major ion chemistry in ground water in the Kabul Basin,

Afghanistan, October through November 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

14. Map showing spatial distribution of nitrate concentration in ground water

in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

15. Boxplot of nitrate concentration in ground water in the Kabul Basin,

Afghanistan, July through November 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

16. Map showing spatial distribution of colonies of E. coli in ground water

in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

17. Map showing spatial distribution of sodium adsorption ratio in ground water

in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

18. Boxplot of sodium adsorption ratio in ground water in the Kabul Basin,

Afghanistan, July through November 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

19. Map showing spatial distribution of boron concentration in ground water

in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

20. Boxplot of boron concentration in ground water in the Kabul Basin,

Afghanistan, July through November 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

21. Boxplots of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead in ground

water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

22. Boxplots of aluminum, iron, manganese, strontium, and zinc in ground water

in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Tables

1. Climatological information for Kabul, Afghanistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2. Categories of information sought for each well in the inventory of wells

in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

3. Measured water-quality properties and analytes in samples from wells

in the inventory of wells in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

4. Comparison of results of nitrate analysis by field test strips with laboratory

analytical values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

5. Exceedances of USEPA drinking-water standards, health advisories, and

secondary drinking-water regulations in ground-water samples collected

in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July to November 2004. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
 v

Conversion Factors and Datum

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F = (1.8 x °C) + 32

Vertical and horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the World Geodetic System 1984 

(WGS 84).

Specific conductance is given in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius (μS/cm).

Concentrations of chemical constituents in water are given either in milligrams per liter (mg/L) or 

micrograms per liter (μg/L).

Multiply By To obtain

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile

liter (L) 0.264 gallon

liter per second (L/s) 15.85 gallon per minute

meter (m) 3.281 foot

meter (m) 1.094 yard

meter per day (m/d) 3.281 foot per day

meter squared per day (m2/d) 10.76 foot squared per day

milliliter (mL) 0.03381 ounce, fluid

millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch

square kilometer (km2) 247.1 acre

Inventory of Ground-Water Resources

in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

By Robert E. Broshears, M. Amin Akbari, Michael P. Chornack, David K. Mueller, and Barbara C. Ruddy

The story of Afghanistan is a story of juxtaposition—a long history of colliding landmasses and colliding cultures that continues 

unabated. J. Stephen Schindler (2002)

Abstract

In 2004, the U.S. Geological Survey began working with 

engineers at the Afghanistan Geological Survey to provide 

hydrologic training and equipment and to apply these tools to 

build an inventory of water wells in the Kabul Basin of Afghanistan. An inventory of 148 wells now includes information on 

well location, depth, and access. Water-level and water-quality 

measurements have been made at most of these wells. A waterlevel elevation map has been constructed, and general directions of ground-water flow have been defined.

Ground-water flow in the Kabul Basin is primarily through 

saturated alluvium and other basin-fill sediments. The watertable surface generally mirrors topography, and ground water 

generally flows in the directions of surface-water discharge. 

The quality of ground water in the Kabul Basin varies widely. 

In some areas, ground-water quality is excellent, with low 

concentrations of dissolved solids and no problematic constituents. In other areas, however, high concentrations of dissolved 

solids and the presence of some constituents at concentrations 

deemed harmful to humans and crops render untreated ground 

water marginal or unsuitable for public supply and/or agricultural use. Of particular concern are elevated concentrations of 

nitrate, boron, and dissolved solids, and an indication of fecal 

pollution in some parts of the basin.

As Afghanistan emerges from years of conflict, as institutional capacities rejuvenate and grow, and as the need for wise 

water-management decisions continues, adequate data and a 

fuller understanding of the ground-water resource in the Kabul 

Basin will be imperative. The work described in this report 

represents only a modest beginning in what will be a long-term 

data-collection and interpretive effort.

Introduction

Political upheaval, military invasion, civil war, religious 

extremism, population displacement, and drought—Afghanistan has been overwhelmed with tragedy during recent decades. 

In their search for a peaceful future, the Afghan people face 

many difficulties. One of the country’s most critical needs is to 

secure safe and reliable supplies of water. The situation is 

particularly acute in major population centers, such as Kabul, 

Herat, Kandahar, and Mazar-e-Sharif, and in rural agricultural 

areas reliant on irrigation. The problem has become so 

pronounced that it affects international efforts to stabilize the 

country and is widely viewed as a national health and humanitarian crisis (Refugees International, 2004; Action Contre la 

Faim, 2004).

In 2004, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), under an 

agreement funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), began a collaboration with a group of water 

engineers at the Afghanistan Geological Survey (AGS). In both 

domestic and international arenas, it is the mission of the USGS 

to develop the data and understanding necessary for the wise 

management of natural resources. The AGS has a similar 

mission in its homeland. Unfortunately, for the tragic reasons 

cited above, the ability of the AGS and other Afghan agencies 

to address the nation’s water crisis has been limited. Ministries 

have lacked equipment and personnel trained in modern hydrologic techniques, and much historic data have been lost.

The initial focus of the AGS-USGS collaboration has been 

on training, procurement of equipment, and application of these 

tools to build an inventory of water wells in the Kabul Basin. 

Training and equipment are being provided in computer 

science, data base management, geographic information 

systems, geographic positioning systems, field hydrogeology, 

and water quality. Almost 150 wells in the Kabul Basin have 

been inventoried as of November 2004. In most of these wells, 

water levels have been measured, and water samples have been 

collected and analyzed for physical, chemical, and microbiological properties. This report presents the results of this initial 

data-collection effort.
2 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the efforts of many individuals 

whose contributions have made this work possible. Said 

Mirzad, senior national resources advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, was instrumental in building a cooperative framework between AGS and USGS. Charles Moseley and 

Peter Jezek of USAID worked tirelessly with Jack Medlin and 

Verne Schneider of the USGS to complete the agreement. John 

Earle, David Litke, and Patrick Tucci were integral members of 

the USGS team. Finally, it is with the utmost gratitude and 

affection that we acknowledge the resilience, dedication, and 

hard work of our Afghan colleagues: Mohammad Taher, Ali 

Mohammad, Hashim Sadiq, Abdul Hamid, Najibullah Majedy, 

Fazil Haq Khesravy, Saed Jamaluddin, Fahima Hasanzada, 

Anisa Mayar Wardak, Abdul Samad Tarin, Amir Mohammad, 

Baba Haedar Sha, and Habib Dastagirzada.

Description of the Study Area

The study area encompasses about 1,800 km2 and includes 

the Kabul Basin (figs. 1 and 2). This section describes the 

geographic setting, climate, and geologic framework, which 

affect occurrence, flow, and quality of ground water.

Geographic Setting

Afghanistan is a rugged, land-locked country in southcentral Asia (fig. 1). It is bordered by Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. Its terrain is dominated by the majestic Hindu Kush, whose peaks rise to over 

7,000 m, and associated mountain ranges extending across the 

country in a northeast to southwest arc. Traversed by deep 

valleys, these mountains separate plains to the north and southwest.

The city of Kabul is located along the confluences of the 

Kabul River, Logar River, and Paghman Stream (fig. 2), 

although in recent years these streams have been dry for much 

of the year. Paghman Stream joins the Kabul River at the 

western end of the city, just before the Kabul River enters 

central Kabul. Topography in central Kabul is relatively flat. 

The Kabul River flows eastward toward its confluence with the 

Logar River, then enters a steep canyon at the south-central end 

of the basin. Immediately north of Kabul, bedrock outcrops 

delineate surface-water divides beyond which ephemeral drainages discharge to the northeast from Shomali and to the northwest from Deh Sabz. Both of these areas eventually contribute 

flow to the Panjsher River. The Panjsher River joins the Kabul 

River approximately 100 km east of Kabul.

Figure 1. Location of Afghanistan and Kabul.

60° 65° 70° 75°

30°

35°

40°

Afghanistan Pakistan

Iran

Turkmenistan

China

India

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

^

Kabul

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data series DDS-62-C, 2001

GCS World Geodetic System 1984
Description of the Study Area 3

Figure 2. Study area of Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, with major surface-water features.

Paghman

Kabul

Kabul

Logar

Stream

River

River

River

Base from U.S. Geological Survey Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

69°00' 69°10' 69°20'

34°30'

34°40'

34°50'

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS

Central

 Kabul

Deh Sabz

Shomali

Paghman Massif

Kohi Safi

Streams

Perennial

Intermittent

EXPLANATION
4 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Climate

The climate in Afghanistan is arid to semi-arid, with cold 

winters and hot summers. Meteorological records have been 

scarce in recent decades, but from the period 1956 to 1983, 

Kabul experienced temperatures ranging from a mean monthly 

low in January of -7.1°C to a mean monthly high in July of 

32.1°C (table 1). During this same period, mean annual precipitation in Kabul was 312 mm (World Meteorological Organization, 2004). However, since about 1998, most of the country has 

experienced drought conditions. Annual precipitation in Kabul 

for 2001, for example, was reported at only 175 mm (International Water Management Institute, 2002). The ongoing 

drought has been described as the worst in Afghanistan in over 

a century (Girardet and Walter, 2004).

Geologic Framework

Afghanistan lies along the great tectonic upheaval that has 

produced the world’s highest mountain ranges—the Himalaya, 

Karakoram, Pamirs, and the Hindu Kush. In the Kabul area, 

orogeny has been accompanied by a complex sequence of 

faulting. Deep crystalline grabens formed and have filled with 

hundreds of meters of alluvial, colluvial, and lacustrine deposits 

(Bohannon, 2005) (figs. 3a and 3b).

The landmass of Afghanistan is a collection of crustal 

blocks that separated about 200 million years (m.y.) ago during 

the fragmentation of the supercontinent Pangea. A series of 

collisions between small crustal blocks, derived from the 

southern landmass of Gondwana, and the large northern landmass of Laurasia lasted from about 100 m.y. to 5 m.y. ago 

(Treloar and Izatt, 1993). The result is the very complex and 

varied geology within the borders of present-day Afghanistan. 

Many block boundaries are marked by suture zones, some of 

which display recurring movement along prominent strike-slip 

faults and fault zones, and some of which nearly transect the 

entire country.

The Kabul block is bounded on the east and west by major 

left-lateral strike-slip faults, and by a thrust fault at depth on the 

north (Myslil and others, 1982; Treloar and Izatt, 1993). The 

strike-slip displacement on east- and west-bounding faults has 

moved the Kabul block in a northeasterly direction. The general 

stratigraphic sequence in the Kabul block is comprised of 

Proterozoic metamorphic rocks overlain by Paleozoic to Cenozoic (Pliocene) sedimentary rocks (Wolfart and Wittekindt, 

1980). Major river valleys are filled with Pleistocene through 

Holocene sediments (Banks and Soldal, 2002). Igneous rocks 

were intruded periodically from the late Cretaceous to the 

Tertiary (Oligocene) and were later exposed by erosion and/or 

tectonic activity. 

The Kabul Basin is located in the north-central part of the 

Kabul block. The Kabul Basin was formed by faulting of crystalline rocks and erosion. Faulting uplifted the surrounding 

mountains and hills relative to the basins. Subsequent erosion of 

these highlands and deposition in the basin grabens resulted in 

the present landscape. This landscape and its underlying 

geology is similar to the basin and range provinces of Arizona 

and Nevada in the United States. 

The basin is bordered on the west by the Paghman Massif 

(fig. 2) comprised of Proterozoic and Mesozoic crystalline 

rocks, and Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks 

(Bohannon, 2005), which are highly faulted. The Kohi Safi 

mountain range borders the basin on the east and northeast and 

is comprised of Proterozoic and Paleogene crystalline rocks, 

Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, and Mesozoic (Triassic) rhyolitic 

lavas (Bohannon, 2005). The hills to the south of the basin are 

comprised of late Paleozoic and Mesozoic (Triassic) sedimentary rocks and Cenozoic (Eocene) ultramafic intrusive rocks 

(Bohannon, 2005). The low hills within the Kabul Basin are 

comprised of Proterozoic gneiss and are surrounded by an apron 

of late Cenozoic (Pleistocene-Holocene) alluvial fan material. 

The geologic map and schematic cross sections in Myslil and 

others (1982) depict steeply dipping range-front faults controlling the low hills within the basin and offsetting some of the 

older alluvial deposits. The initial development of these graben 

structures began in the late Miocene, which is coincident with 

the formation of the Kabul River valley (Myslil and others, 

1982). Formation of the grabens was accompanied by erosion of 

the surrounding upland areas and the filling of the developing 

basins with sediments.

Detailed stratigraphic information about the basin-fill 

material and the bedrock underlying the basin sediments is 

scarce. The most comprehensive description of the basin-fill 

Table 1. Climatological information for Kabul, Afghanistan.

[From World Meterological Organization climatological normals based 

on monthly averages for the period 1956 to 1983. °C, degree Celsius; 

mm, millimeters]

Month

Mean temperature (°C) Mean total

Daily minimum Daily 

maximum

Precipitation 

(mm)

Jan. -7.1 4.5 34.3

Feb. -5.7 5.5 60.1

Mar. 0.7 12.5 67.9

Apr. 6.0 19.2 71.9

May 8.8 24.4 23.4

June 12.4 30.2 1.0

July 15.3 32.1 6.2

Aug. 14.3 32.0 1.6

Sept. 9.4 28.5 1.7

Oct. 3.9 22.4 3.7

Nov. -1.2 15.0 18.6

Dec. -4.7 8.3 21.6
Previous Hydrogeologic Investigations 5

material to date is by Myslil and others (1982). According to 

that report, and to a certain degree confirmed by the geologic 

map compiled by Bohannon (2005), the stratigraphic sequence 

for the basin fill is: Miocene conglomerate and sandstone 

(Butkhak Formation); Pliocene clays, lacustrine siltstone, and 

lenses of very fine sand (Kabul Formation); and Quaternary 

sediments of middle to upper Pleistocene age. Bohannon (2005) 

further divides the Quaternary sediments within the Kabul 

Basin. Four units labeled as “conglomerate and sandstone” 

ranging in age from middle Pleistocene to Holocene are 

mapped. Limited exposures of a middle Pleistocene unit occur 

at the bedrock-alluvium contact along the flanks of the mountains on the east and west sides of the basin. The unit with the 

greatest areal extent, covering most of the basin surface, is a late 

Pleistocene alluvial unit described as “shingly and detrital sediments, gravel, sand > silt and clay,” with loess occurring over 

much of the mapped area. Late Pleistocene to Holocene alluvial 

fan deposits are prominent features within the basin, especially 

on the low hills comprised of Proterozoic gneiss. The youngest 

Quaternary unit occurs in and adjacent to the active drainage 

channel of the Kabul River and its major tributaries.

The lack of borehole lithologic or geophysical data limits 

a refined conceptualization of the subsurface geology of the 

basin. The thickness of basin-fill sediments cannot be accurately determined at this time, because no known boreholes 

have penetrated the full thickness of sediments to the underlying bedrock. The thickness and lateral extent of individual 

lithostratigraphic units are also unknown at this time. Using the 

schematic cross sections in Myslil and others (1982), and an 

understanding of the concepts of basin development, the thickness of the basin-fill sediments can be estimated. The greatest 

thickness of the basin-fill sediments is in the center of the basins 

where, in some areas, it is in excess of 600 m. The thickness 

decreases towards the range-front faults, but is still on the order 

of tens of meters adjacent to the outcrops of bedrock bordering 

and within the basin. A thin covering of sediments generally 

occurs at the bedrock-alluvium contact at the edges of the 

basins. The general stratigraphic sequence for basin-fill sediments in Afghanistan is described in Banks and Soldal (2002). 

Adjacent to and directly overlying bedrock outcrops, the sediments consist of coarse-grained alluvial fan deposits. From the 

basin-bounding and inter-basin mountains toward the center of 

the basin, the size of the sediments decreases to sand-, silt-, and 

clay-sized. Depending on the depositional environment, areas 

within the basin could contain substantial thicknesses of lacustrine and/or evaporate deposits. This conceptual model is 

consistent with alluvial basins in other semi-arid environments 

(Anderson and others, 1992; Bartolino and Cole, 2002). The 

active river channels generally contain sediments ranging in 

size from coarse gravel to fine sand. There were no indications 

in any of the references examined for this report that any boreholes had been drilled deep enough to penetrate the basin-fill 

sediments and encounter bedrock in the Kabul Basin. 

Myslil and others (1982) list three hydrogeologic units 

within the Kabul Basin—crystalline rocks and their mantle, 

Tertiary sediments, and Quaternary sediments. The crystalline 

rocks are the Proterozoic metamorphic rocks. Secondary fracture permeability in these rocks resulting from faulting could 

make these rocks potentially important water-bearing zones in 

and adjacent to the Kabul Basin. In the absence of fractures, the 

crystalline rocks act as a barrier to ground-water flow. The 

Tertiary sediments, referred to as Neogene by ground-water 

engineers at the AGS, are primarily clay, clay-silt, and fine 

sand-clay sediments. Some of the fine sand-clay layers are 

potential aquifers, but their areal extent is unknown and could 

be limited. The Tertiary (Neogene) sediments are not considered a major aquifer in the Kabul Basin. Future drilling and 

hydraulic testing of boreholes could improve understanding of 

the water-producing abilities of these Tertiary sediments. The 

Quaternary alluvial deposits within the major rivers channels 

are the most productive deposits in the Kabul Basin, as 

evidenced by a number of municipal production wells drilled in 

this environment.

Previous Hydrogeologic Investigations

Little published information on the hydrogeology of the 

Kabul Basin is available in English or any other language. 

Myslil and others (1982) produced a water-table map of the 

Kabul area and briefly described the hydraulic properties and 

water quality of the aquifer. Transmissivity was reported to 

range from 10 to 8,000 m2

/d. Based on a small number of chemical analyses, ground water in the basin was described as being 

variably mineralized. In zones of lower levels of mineralization, 

waters were of the calcium bicarbonate type. In more mineralized zones, waters were more enriched in sodium and chloride.

Shevchenko and others (1983) described the hydrogeology 

of productive alluvial deposits along the Kabul River in the 

Darlaman area of southwest Kabul. Alluvium in this area 

consisted of gravels and conglomerates at least 55 m thick. 

Measures of hydraulic conductivity ranged from 46 to 105 m/d. 

Yields of as much as 70 L/s were accompanied by drawdowns 

of less than 10 m. Dissolved-solids concentrations were 

reported at less than 700 mg/L. 

Banks and Soldal (2002) reported declines in water-table 

elevation of 4 to 6 m in the Kabul area as a result of the first 

3 to 4 years of the drought. Citing the work of Hamid (2002), 

Najibullah (1996), and Timmins (1996), Banks and Soldal 

(2002) described hydraulic conductivity in the basin of 10 to 

70 m/d; well yields ranged from 5 L/s in fine-grained Neogene 

(Tertiary) sediments to several tens of liters per second in 

coarser grained Quaternary deposits. Timmins (1996) analyzed 

for nitrate and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in 1,400 wells, springs, 

and tap stands in the Kabul area. In this survey, the average 

nitrate (as N) concentration was 9.4 mg/L; 10.8 percent of 

samples exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

(USEPA) drinking-water standard of 10 mg/L as N (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004). E. coli counts exceeded 

5 colonies per 100 milliliter (col/100 mL) in 45 percent of wells 

with hand pumps and in 76 percent of open, dug wells.
6 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 3a. Geology of the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan.

Ossl

T23ssl

T23ssl

Mir

Bacheh

Kowt

KABUL

Chahar Dehi Bagrame

Paghman

Q34a

Q34a

Q34a

Q34a

Q34a

Q34a

Q34a

Q34a

Q34a

Q34a

Q34a

Q34a

Q34a

Q3a

Q3a

Q2a

Q2a

Q2a

Q2a

Q3a

Q2a

Q2a

Q4a

Q31oe

Q31oe

Q31oe

Q2a

Q2a Q4a

Q2a

N2cgs

N2cgs

N2cgs

N2cgs

T3rl

T23ssl

T12ld

T12ld

T12ld

P2ld P2ld

P2ld

Xgn

Xgn

Xgn

Xgn

Xgn

Xgn

Xgn

Xgn

Xgn

ZeCld

ZeCld

ZeCld

ZeCld

ZeCld

+P2um

+P2um

+P2um

+P2um

Xgn

CP1ssl CP1ssl

Ym

Ym

Sssl

K1gbm

K1gbm

Pgng L

Pgng L

CP1ssl

T13cld

T3nrsls

Base from U.S. Geological Survey OFR 2005-1107

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

Geology from Bohannon, 2005

69°00' 69°15'

34°30'

34°45'
Previous Hydrogeologic Investigations 7

Figure 3a. Geology of the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan.—Continued

Pgng L

Q4a

Q34a

Q3a

Q31oe

Q2a

N2cgs

K1gbm

T3rl

T3nrsls

T23ssl

T12ld

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CP1ssl

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Xgn

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+P2um

T13cld

Erathem CENOZOIC MESOZOIC PALEOZOIC PROTEROZOIC

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS Stratigraphic

Units

Conglomerate and sandstone (Holocene)—Alluvium: shingly and detrital sediments, gravel, sand more abundant

than silt and clay

Conglomerate and sandstone (Late Pleistocene-Holocene)—Alluvium: shingly and detrital sediments, gravel, sand

more abundant than silt and clay 

Conglomerate and sandstone (Late Pleistocene)—Alluvium: shingly and detrital sediments, gravel, sand more

abundant than silt and clay

Loess (Late Pleistocene)—Loess more abundant than sand, clay

Conglomerate and sandstone (Middle Pleistocene)—Alluvium: shingly and detrital sediments, gravel, sand more

abundant than silt and clay

Conglomerate and sandstone (Pliocene)—Gray conglomerate, grit, sandstone more abundant than siltstone, clay,

limestone, marl; gypsum, salt; acid to mafic volcanic rocks 

Ultramafic intrusions (Eocene)—Dunite, peridotite, serpentinite 

Gabbro and monzonite (Early Cretaceous)—Gabbro, monzonite more abundant than diorite, granodiorite 

Rhyolite lava (Late Triassic)—Shale more abundant than phyllite, andesite to basalt (greenstone altered), limestone

(Kotagai Series) 

Siltstone and sandstone (Late Triassic-Norian/Rhaetian)—Siltstone, sandstone more abundant than shale,

conglomerate 

Sandstone and siltstone (Middle-Late Triassic)—Sandstone and siltstone more abundant than mudstone, carbonaceous shale, limestone, marl, conglomerate, acid and mafic volcanic rocks (North Afghanistan); limestone, dolomite,

marl (Kabul Massif and Kunar Tectonic Zone) 

Limestone and dolomite (Early-Late Triassic/Carnian)—Limestone, dolomite more abundant than conglomerate,

chert, marl (Middle Afghanistan); limestone, sandstone, shale, conglomerate, chert, mafic volcanic rocks (Khashrud

Tectonic Zone); limestone, dolomite (Kishmaran Tectonic Zone) 

Limestone and dolomite (Early-Middle Triassic)—Limestone, dolomite, marl 

Limestone and dolomite (Late Permian)—Limestone, dolomite more abundant than marl, conglomerate, sandstone,

siltstone, shale, bauxite and bauxite-bearing rocks 

Sandstone and siltstone (Carbonifeous-Early Permian)—Sandstone and siltstone more abundant than slate,

andesite to basalt volcanic rocks 

Sandstone and siltstone (Silurian)—Sandstone, siltstone, shale (Lagar and Argandab Tectonic Zones) 

Sandstone and siltstone (Ordovician)—Sandstone and siltstone more abundant than shale (Lagar and Argandab

Tectonic Zones); limestone, sandstone, siltstone, shale (Middle Afghanistan); shale, sandstone, chert (North

Afghanistan) 

Limestone and dolomite (Neoproterozoic-Edicarian/Cambrian)—Limestone and dolomite (Argandab Tectonic

Zone); [ZEmbq: marble, quartzite, metasandstone, mica schist {Kabul Massif}] 

Metamorphic rocks—undivided (Mesoproterozoci)—Greenschist, gneiss, quartzite, marble, amphibolite {metavolcanic lava and sedimentary rocks} 

Gneiss and granite (Proterozoic)—Gneiss-granite, granite, plagiogranite 

Gneiss (Paleoproterozoic)—Two-mica, biotite, biotite-amphibole, garnet-biotite, and plagioclase gneiss; migmatite,

quartzite, marble amphibolite 

Fault or fault zone
8 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 3b. Generalized section of hydrogeologic units.

? ?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Quaternary

alluvial fan deposits

Quaternary

alluvial fan deposits

Quaternary

alluvial deposits

Quaternary sediments

alluvial, colluvial, and lacustrine deposits

Tertiary sediments

alluvial, colluvial, and lacustrine deposits

Mantle of

weathered

 crystalline

rocks

Crystalline

rocks

Crystalline

rocks

River

Not to scale

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (2002) tabulated 

ground-water resources throughout Afghanistan. In the Kabul 

area, they briefly described sand and gravel alluvial aquifers 

along the Kabul and Logar Rivers as well as along the Paghman 

Stream. Aquifer thickness was reported to range from a few 

meters to 150 m. Well yields were described as moderate to 

large with pumpage of more than 40 L/s with small drawdown 

in the lower Kabul alluvial aquifer. Water-quality concerns 

included locally brackish to saline conditions and microbial 

contamination of shallow ground water. 

Methods

An inventory of 148 wells was compiled for the Kabul 

Basin. Locations of these wells are shown in figures 4a and 4b. 

Wells were chosen to provide broad spatial coverage, with additional emphasis on selecting deeper wells and those with secure, 

sustainable access. Shallow wells, such as the scores of handpumped public-supply wells constructed by relief organizations, were largely excluded from the inventory. Shallow wells 

were excluded in part because they were the focus of an 

ongoing investigation by the German Federal Institute for 

Geosciences and Natural Resources. Basic categories of information sought for each well, such as location, depth, and access, 

are displayed in table 2.

Well locations were established by differential global 

positioning system (GPS) measurements using Garmin 76S 

instruments and Rhino-Rover software developed by U.S. 

Positioning Inc. The three-dimensional satellite survey originated from a benchmark provided by The Louis Berger Group, 

Inc. (Ed Coban, oral and written commun., September 13, 

Table 2. Categories of information sought for each well in the 

inventory of wells in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan.

AGS assigned well identification number

Narrative description of well location

Latitude of well, in decimal degrees

Longitude of well, in decimal degrees

Land surface elevation of well, in meters above sea level

Comment on quality of location survey

Depth from land surface to bottom of well, in meters

Name of person who can give permission to access well

Date of well visit

Measured depth to water below land surface, in meters

Water-level elevation above sea level, in meters

Comment on local pumping conditions
Methods 9

2004). This benchmark has been used for road construction and 

for a survey of wells and other structures by international 

agencies in Kabul. A derivative base station was established at 

the AGS building in Kabul. Locations of all wells in the 

network were surveyed by collecting 30 minutes of spatial data 

at 1-second intervals from 6 to 9 satellites. Satellite qualitycontrol data were obtained from the continuously operating 

reference stations operated by the National Geodetic Survey 

(http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/CORS). Post-processing of the 

resulting files was accomplished with the Rhino-Rover software operating in carrier phase. Uncertainty of ground-surface 

measurement in all three spatial dimensions at each well site is 

believed to be less than 1 m.

Depth to ground water from the surveyed ground surface 

was determined by down-hole measurements using electric 

water-level tapes. Water-table altitude was calculated by 

subtracting the measured depth to water from the land-surface 

altitude, and the water-table altitude was plotted on a base map. 

Water-level measurements were made between late July and 

late November 2004. With few exceptions, it is believed that 

natural or human induced changes in the water-table surface 

during this 4-month time period were less than the 1-m accuracy 

of the survey. Multiple measurements of water levels in many 

wells during this period substantiate this assumption. Therefore, 

for the purposes of defining the water table in the Kabul area 

during this period, all static measurements were used. Water 

levels in six wells (110, 170, 201, 208, 219, and 220) were 

believed to represent pumping (non-static) levels and were not 

used in preparation of the water-table map. For exploratory 

analysis, water levels were contoured using the spatial analyst 

features of ArcMap (Environmental Systems Research Institute, 1999), but final water-table contour maps were hand 

drawn.

In addition to water-level measurements, physical, chemical and microbiological properties of ground water were 

obtained at 108 wells. Water temperature, pH, and specific 

conductance were measured in the field using a hand-held 

meter. Dissolved oxygen was determined in the field by a 

colorimetric method (Hach Company, 2004). Nitrite and nitrate 

concentration ranges were estimated colorimetrically using 

field test strips. In addition, water samples were collected in 2- 

or 4-L high-density plastic containers for chemical analyses; 

water samples for microbial analysis were collected in 100-mL 

sterile vessels. These samples were transported on ice to AGS 

for subsequent processing. Water was filtered using a peristaltic 

pump and 0.45-micrometer capsule filters. Samples for filtered 

cation and trace-element analysis were preserved with ultrex 

nitric acid. Samples for major anion analysis were untreated. 

Samples for nitrate and nitrite analysis were aspirated into 

11-mL vacuum tubes and kept chilled (<4°C) until analysis. At 

seven wells, additional nitrogen and phosphorus species were 

determined. Samples were transported to the USGS National 

Water Quality Laboratory in Lakewood, Colorado, where the 

chemical analyses were performed according to procedures 

described in Fishman (1993). Within 6 hours of collection, 

samples for microbial analysis were processed at the U.S. 

Embassy in Kabul. The Colilert Quanti-Tray or Quanti-Tray 

2000 system was used for enumeration of total coliform 

bacteria and E. coli. All measured water-quality properties and 

analytes are shown in table 3.

Table 3. Measured water-quality properties and analytes in 

samples from wells in the inventory of wells in the Kabul Basin, 

Afghanistan.

[°C, degree Celsius; μS/cm, microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees 

Celsius; mg/L, milligrams per liter; col/100 mL, colonies per 100 milliliters; 

μg/L, micrograms per liter]

Field measurements

Water temperature, °C

Specific conductance, μS/cm

pH, standard units

Dissolved oxygen, mg/L

Nitrate and nitrite test strip range, mg/L

Major ions and silica (dissolved, in mg/L)

Calcium Alkalinity

Magnesium Sulfate

Sodium Chloride

Potassium Fluoride

Silica Bromide

Residue on evaporation (dissolved, in mg/L)

Nutrients (dissolved, in mg/L)

Nitrate Orthophosphate

Nitrite Phosphorus

Total nitrogen

Ammonia

Bacterial indicators (col/100 mL)

Total coliform

Escherichia coli

Trace elements (dissolved, in μg/L)

Aluminum Cobalt Selenium

Antimony Copper Silver

Arsenic Iron Strontium

Barium Lead Thallium

Beryllium Lithium Uranium

Boron Manganese Vanadium

Cadmium Molybdenum Zinc

Chromium Nickel
10 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 4a. Location of wells in the ground-water inventory in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan.

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Area shown

in figure 4b

Base from U.S. Geological Survey Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

69°00' 69°10' 69°20'

34°30'

34°40'

34°50'

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS

Well location and number

EXPLANATION

100
Methods 11

Figure 4b. Location of wells in the ground-water inventory in central Kabul.

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12 220

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Base from U.S. Geological Survey Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

Well location and number

EXPLANATION

69°10' 69°15'

34°30'

34°35'

0 1 2 MILES

012 KILOMETERS

137
12 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Ground-Water Flow in the Kabul Basin

Ground-water flow in the Kabul Basin is primarily through 

saturated alluvium and other basin-fill sediments. Some ground 

water may flow through the weathered bedrock immediately 

beneath the alluvium and through fractures in the bedrock, but 

the amount of flow in these zones is believed to be small 

compared with flow in the alluvium. Thus bedrock outcrops 

effectively isolate ground-water flow into several distinct 

subbasins.

A water-table map of the Kabul Basin is shown in figure 5. 

Water-table altitudes range from 2,279 m above sea level in the 

southwestern part of the basin to 1,466 m above sea level in the 

northern part of the basin. Water levels in most of central Kabul 

range from 1,785 to 1,775 m above sea level. Information on 

vertical ground-water gradients is not available. Water-table 

contours within the alluvial aquifer were constructed using a 

50-m contour interval for most of the study area. Contours were 

restricted to the alluvium-filled part of the basin, to represent 

the primary ground-water flow system of the basin. A more 

detailed water-table map was constructed in central Kabul, 

using a 5-m contour interval. 

The water-table surface generally mirrors topography, and 

ground water generally flows in the directions of surface-water 

discharge. Steep gradients exist along mountain-front recharge 

areas and in the upper reaches of the Kabul, Logar, and 

Paghman valleys. Gradients decrease across the area beneath 

central Kabul, in the agricultural and village zones of Shomali, 

and in the sparsely populated Deh Sabz area.

Water levels from 1980 were mapped by Myslil and others 

(1982). In comparing water levels measured in this study with 

those from 1980, a decline in the water table is evident. In the 

flatter areas of central Kabul, these declines are approximately 

5 to 6 m. Water-table declines since 1980 increase to over 10 m 

in upslope areas. In 1980, marshy areas and a few shallow lakes 

were present in many parts of central Kabul. During the current 

study (2004), these marshes and lakes were dry. 

Depths to water in the Kabul Basin range from less than 

5 m to more than 60 m below land surface (fig. 6). Depths to 

water are less than 15 m along most stream channels and in 

most of central Kabul. The water table is within 30 m of land 

surface throughout most of the basin. Greater depths occur in 

some areas of Deh Sabz. The greatest depth to ground water was 

72 m, a measurement recorded in well 23 located in the foothills 

of Shomali. 

Ground-Water Quality of the

Kabul Basin

The quality of ground water in the Kabul Basin varies 

widely. In some areas, ground-water quality is excellent, with 

low concentrations of dissolved solids and no problematic 

constituents. In other areas, however, high concentrations of 

dissolved solids and the presence of some constituents at 

concentrations deemed harmful to humans and crops render 

untreated ground water marginal or unsuitable for public supply 

and/or agricultural use. The results of all water-quality analyses 

are available on the internet at URL http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/

sir2005-5090.

Dissolved Solids, Specific Conductance, and 

Major Ion Chemistry

Concentrations of dissolved solids in samples collected for 

this study range from 156 to 9,350 mg/L; the median value is 

523 mg/L (fig. 7). Values are generally less than 300 mg/L 

along upgradient hydrologic boundaries throughout the basin 

(fig. 8). Along flow paths under less populated areas, these 

values gradually increase to about 500 mg/L, suggesting natural 

processes of chemical weathering and minimal anthropogenic 

impact on major ion chemistry. Under areas of major urban land 

use, however, gradients of dissolved solids are steeper. Beneath 

central Kabul concentrations are 500 to 1,000 mg/L or more in 

many parts of the city. The highest values occur in industrial 

areas immediately to the northeast of the city, with a single 

observation (well 153) as high as 9,350 mg/L. While these 

values are likely influenced by industrial activity, they may also 

be attributable to natural processes and perhaps to poor well 

construction. In times of greater local precipitation, marshes 

were common in several areas on the eastern fringe of the city. 

These marshes are now dry, leaving a salt crust at the surface. 

Shallow wells in the area exhibit very high concentrations of 

dissolved solids (Torge Tuennermeier, Federal Institute for 

Geosciences and Natural Resources, oral commun., 2004), and 

deeper wells that are poorly sealed may be affected by recharge 

through the surficial salt crust.

Values of specific conductance mirror concentrations of 

dissolved solids. The range is 241 to 14,010 μS/cm; the median 

value is 849 μS/cm (fig. 9). Specific conductance is less than 

500 μS/cm along most upgradient hydrologic boundaries 

(fig. 10). Under less populated areas, these values gradually 

increase to 600 to 1,000 μS/cm. Beneath central Kabul they 

increase to more than 1,000 μS/cm. The highest values occur in 

industrial areas immediately to the northeast of the city, with a 

single observation (well 153) as high as 14,010 μS/cm.

Major ion chemistry of the Kabul Basin is predominately 

of the calcium magnesium bicarbonate type. In ground water 

with higher dissolved solids, however, sodium, sulfate, and 

chloride concentrations are elevated. This trend is illustrated in 

the piper diagram in figure 11, where samples with dissolvedsolids concentrations greater than 1,000 mg/L are relatively 

distinct. Boxplots of major ion concentrations are shown in 

figure 12.
Ground-Water Quality of the Kabul Basin 13

Figure 5. Water table in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004.

1785

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Base from U.S. Geological Survey Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

69°00' 69°10' 69°20'

34°30'

34°40'

34°50'

Water-table contour—Shows altitude of water table,

 in meters above sea level. Contour interval variable.

EXPLANATION

Generalized direction of ground-water flow

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS
14 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 6. Depth to ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004.

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Base from U.S. Geological Survey Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

69°00' 69°10' 69°20'

34°30'

34°40'

34°50'

Depth below land surface, in meters

EXPLANATION

Less than 5

5 to 10

10 to 15

15 to 20

20 to 30

30 to 60

Greater than 60

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS
Ground-Water Quality of the Kabul Basin 15

Figure 7. Concentrations of dissolved solids in ground water in

the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004.

100

1,000

10,000

EXPLANATION

Maximum

75 percentile

Median

25 percentile

Minimum

DISSOLVED SOLIDS, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

Variation in ground-water chemistry from upgradient to 

downgradient locations in the major subbasins is depicted by 

radial diagrams in figure 13. The sample from well 20 

(fig. 13a), located in the upgradient area of Shomali, has low 

dissolved solids (181 mg/L) and a distinctly calcium bicarbonate water type. Downgradient in Shomali, in the sample 

from well 45 (fig. 13b), the dissolved-solids concentration 

increases to 413 mg/L, and the water type is calcium magnesium bicarbonate with a considerable increase in sodium 

concentration. These differences in chemical composition are 

consistent with weathering of calcite, dolomite, biotite, and 

other common minerals, and perhaps some ion exchange. In 

Paghman, the situation is similar. The sample from well 100 

(fig. 13c), located in the upgradient area of Paghman, has low 

dissolved solids (199 mg/L) and a distinctly calcium bicarbonate water type. Downgradient in Paghman, in the sample 

from well 121 (fig. 13d), the dissolved-solids concentration has 

increased to 465 mg/L, and the water type is calcium magnesium sodium bicarbonate. In Deh Sabz, the sample from upgradient well 7 (fig. 13e) is low in dissolved solids (248 mg/L) and 

calcium magnesium bicarbonate in water type. Downgradient 

in this subbasin, in well 37 (fig. 13f), dissolved solids are 

521 mg/L, and the water type is mixed with increased concentrations of sodium and sulfate. These changes in chemical 

composition may be attributable to weathering of rock that may 

include gypsum. 

Ground water within central Kabul is more vulnerable to 

anthropogenic influence than in other parts of the basin. Even 

wells in relatively upgradient locations are rather high in 

dissolved-solids concentration. In the sample from well 174 

(fig. 13g), for example, the concentration of dissolved solids is 

508 mg/L. The water type of this sample is calcium magnesium 

bicarbonate, but sodium is also present at higher concentration 

than in upgradient wells in the other subbasins. Samples from 

downgradient wells in central Kabul are mixed in water type. 

As shown in figures 13h through 13j, many of these wells are 

elevated in sodium, magnesium, and chloride. These differences are likely due to a combination of rock weathering, 

evaporative concentration, and anthropogenic sources.

Oxidation-Reduction (Redox) Conditions

Based on the samples collected in this study, ground water 

in the Kabul Basin is generally oxic in nature. Several lines of 

evidence indicate this condition. Dissolved-oxygen concentration ranges from 0.4 to 16.5 mg/L with only two samples 

(wells 1 and 111) measuring below 2.0 mg/L; the median value 

is 7.6 mg/L. While this range is highly oxic, many dissolvedoxygen values measured in this study have considerable uncertainty and likely have a positive bias. Measurements were not 

made in a sealed, flow-through chamber, and surface aeration 

was often evident during sampling.

Concentrations of other constituents, however, support the 

existence of oxic conditions in the aquifer. Iron and manganese 

are redox sensitive elements, both being much more soluble 

under reducing conditions. Concentrations of both elements are 

generally low. Iron concentrations range from 3 μg/L to 

1,690 μg/L, but only one of the 108 samples (well 110) has an 

iron concentration higher than 300 μg/L. Only three other wells 

(115, 150, and 166) have iron concentrations over 70 μg/L. 

Manganese concentrations range from 0.1 μg/L to 1,070 μg/L, 

but only four wells (115, 139, 153, and 156) have values above 

40 μg/L.
16 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 8. Spatial distribution of concentrations of dissolved solids in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July

through November 2004.

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Base from U.S. Geological Survey Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

69°00' 69°10' 69°20'

34°30'

34°40'

34°50'

Dissolved solids, in milligrams per liter

EXPLANATION

Less than 300

300 to 500

500 to 1,000

1,000 to 2,000

Greater than 2,000

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS
Ground-Water Quality of the Kabul Basin 17

Figure 9. Specific conductance in ground water in the Kabul 

Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004.

100

1,000

100,000

10,000 EXPLANATION

Maximum

75 percentile

Median

25 percentile

Minimum

SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE, IN MICROSIEMENS

PER CENTIMETER AT 25 DEGREES CELSIUS

A final line of evidence for oxic conditions in Kabul Basin 

ground water comes from samples from the seven wells (202, 

205, 206, 211, 216, 219, and 220) for which nitrate, ammonia, 

and total nitrogen were determined. In these wells the nitrate 

concentration ranges from 97 to 106 percent of the total 

nitrogen value (ratios greater than 100 percent are possible due 

to analytical variability). All ammonia concentrations are below 

the detection level of 0.02 mg/L as N. In the samples from 108 

wells that were analyzed for nitrite, the nitrite concentration 

exceeded 0.06 mg/L as N in only two samples. Nitrate is the 

most oxidized form of nitrogen, and the fact that the nitrogen 

pool is dominated by this species supports the prevalence of 

oxic conditions in the aquifer.

Nitrate

Values of nitrate show spatial patterns likely indicative of 

both agricultural and urban influences (fig. 14). Concentrations 

in recharge zones upgradient from these influences are generally less than 2 mg/L as N. They increase to 2 to 10 mg/L as N 

in the important agricultural areas of Shomali. Nitrate concentration is elevated in the urban areas of the basin, where they can 

exceed the USEPA drinking-water standard of 10 mg/L as N. In 

108 wells where nitrate was measured, this standard is exceeded 

at 14 sites, or 13 percent of all samples. This percentage is 

slightly higher than the 10.8 percent rate of exceedances 

observed by Banks and Soldal (2002). The highest observed 

concentration of nitrate is 144 mg/L as N in well 132 located in 

central Kabul. Elevated nitrate in this area may be associated 

with the presence of a local cemetery. A boxplot of nitrate 

concentration appears in figure 15. For all sites, the median 

concentration is 3.7 mg/L as N. The mean concentration for 

wells located in municipal Kabul City (see appendix) is 

8.8 mg/L as N. This value is comparable to the mean of 

9.4 mg/L as N reported by Banks and Soldal (2002).

The nitrate values in figures 14 and 15 were generated by 

laboratory analysis using the cadmium reduction method 

(Fishman, 1993). These values correspond well with concentration ranges estimated from field test strips. As shown in table 4, 

in about 82 percent of all cases, the field estimate brackets the 

analytical value; in most of the remaining cases, the analytical 

value is only slightly different from the field estimate.

Table 4. Comparison of results of nitrate analysis by field test 

strips with laboratory analytical values.

[Concentrations in milligrams per liter as N]

Field test 

strip range

Number of

analyses

Number of

values in

agreement

Percentage 

in 

agreement

Concentration 

of greatest 

outlier

< 5 84 71 84.5 15.6

5 - 10 12 9 75.0 11.6

10 - 20 5 3 60.0 29.5

> 20 4 3 75.0 16.6

All 105 86 81.9
18 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 10. Spatial distribution of specific conductance in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through

November 2004.

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Base from U.S. Geological Survey Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

69°00' 69°10' 69°20'

34°30'

34°40'

34°50'

Specific conductance, in microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius

EXPLANATION

Less than 500

500 to 1,000

1,000 to 1,500

1,500 to 2,000

Greater than 2,000

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS
Ground-Water Quality of the Kabul Basin 19

Figure 11. Piper diagram of samples from ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004.

Figure 12. Boxplot of major ion concentrations in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004.

PERCENT OF TOTAL MILLIEQUIVALENTS PER LITER

Calcium + Magnesium

Sulfate

Sodium + Potassium

Magnesium

Calcium

80

60

40

20

80

80

60

40

20

20

20

40

60

80

40

60

80

60

40

20

20

80

6040

20

40

60

80

80

60

40

20

Bicarbonate 

Sulfate + Chloride

Chloride

EXPLANATION

Dissolved-solids concentration,

 in milligrams per liter

Greater than 1,000

Less than 1,000

Sodium

CalciumMagnesiumChloride

Bicarbonate

Sulfate

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

CONCENTRATION, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

PARAMETERS

75th percentile

Maximum

Minimum

Median

25th percentile

Interquartile

range

EXPLANATION
20 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 13. Radial plots of major ion chemistry in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan,

October through November 2004.

Na

Mg Ca

Cl

HCO3 SO4

3.0 2.4 3.0 1.8 2.4 1.2 1.8 0.6 1.2 0.6 meq/L

A. Well 20, upgradient area of Shomali

Dissolved-solids concentration

is 181 milligrams per liter

Na

Mg Ca

Cl

HCO3 SO4

7.0 5.6 7.0 4.2 5.6 2.8 4.2 1.4 2.8 1.4 meq/L

B. Well 45, downgradient area of Shomali

Dissolved-solids concentration

is 413 milligrams per liter
Ground-Water Quality of the Kabul Basin 21

Figure 13. Radial plots of major ion chemistry in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan,

October through November 2004.—Continued

Na

Mg Ca

Cl

HCO3 SO4

4.0 3.2 4.0 2.4 3.2 1.6 2.4 0.8 1.6 0.8 meq/L

C. Well 100, upgradient area of Paghman

Dissolved-solids concentration

is 199 milligrams per liter

Na

Mg Ca

Cl

HCO3 SO4

8.0 6.4 8.0 4.8 6.4 3.2 4.8 1.6 3.2 1.6 meq/L

D. Well 121, downgradient area of Paghman

Dissolved-solids concentration

is 465 milligrams per liter
22 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 13. Radial plots of major ion chemistry in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan,

October through November 2004.—Continued

Na

Mg Ca

Cl

HCO3 SO4

E. Well 7, upgradient area of Deh Sabz

Dissolved-solids concentration

is 248 milligrams per liter

Na

Mg Ca

Cl

HCO3 SO4

F. Well 37, downgradient area of Deh Sabz

Dissolved-solids concentration

is 521 milligrams per liter

5.0 4.0 5.0 3.0 4.0 2.0 3.0 1.0 2.0 1.0 meq/L

5.0 4.2 5.0 3.4 4.2 2.6 3.4 1.8 2.6 1.8 meq/L
Ground-Water Quality of the Kabul Basin 23

Figure 13. Radial plots of major ion chemistry in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan,

October through November 2004.—Continued

Na

Mg Ca

Cl

HCO3 SO4

G. Well 174, upgradient area of central Kabul

Dissolved-solids concentration

is 508 milligrams per liter

Na

Mg Ca

Cl

HCO3 SO4

H. Well 154, downgradient area of central Kabul

Dissolved-solids concentration

is 840 milligrams per liter

6.0 4.8 6.0 3.6 4.8 2.4 3.6 1.2 2.4 1.2 meq/L

9.0 7.4 9.0 5.8 7.4 4.2 5.8 2.6 4.2 2.6 meq/L
24 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 13. Radial plots of major ion chemistry in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan,

October through November 2004.—Continued

Na

Mg Ca

Cl

HCO3 SO4

I. Well 159, downgradient area of central Kabul

Dissolved-solids concentration

is 861 milligrams per liter

Na

Mg Ca

Cl

HCO3 SO4

J. Well 160, downgradient area of central Kabul

Dissolved-solids concentration

is 881 milligrams per liter

10.0 8.2 10.0 6.4 8.2 4.6 6.4 2.8 4.6 2.8 meq/L

10.0 8.4 10.0 6.8 8.4 5.2 6.8 3.6 5.2 3.6 meq/L
Ground-Water Quality of the Kabul Basin 25

Figure 14. Spatial distribution of nitrate concentration in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through

November 2004.

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Base from U.S. Geological Survey Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

69°00' 69°10' 69°20'

34°30'

34°40'

34°50'

Nitrate, in milligrams per liter as nitrogen

EXPLANATION

Less than 2

2 to 5

5 to 10

10 to 20

Greater than 20

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS
26 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 15. Nitrate concentration in ground water in the Kabul 

Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004.

0.1

10

1

1,000

100

EXPLANATION

Maximum

75 percentile

Median

25 percentile

Minimum

NITRATE CONCENTRATION, IN MILLIGRAMS PER LITER

Bacteria

The distribution of bacteria in the basin shows no particular spatial pattern (fig. 16). E. coli was detected in 24 of 108 

samples. In only six samples (wells 12, 20, 31, 111, 139, and 

177) did the enumeration exceed 10 col/100 mL. The highest 

value of >200 col/100 mL was observed in the sample from 

well 111 in west Kabul. The presence of cultural E. coli in these 

ground waters is a clear indication of fecal contamination. This 

condition reflects the general lack of wastewater treatment 

throughout the basin.

Sodium Adsorption Ratio

The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) is an important 

measure of the tendency of irrigation water to cause structural 

damage to soils. SAR is defined as

where concentrations of Na, Ca, and Mg are given in milliequivalents per liter. Values of SAR in excess of 4 are considered 

potentially problematic (U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff, 1954). 

SAR is 4 or greater in 10 of 108 samples; the highest value of 

20.8 occurs in the sample from well 153. The distribution of 

SAR in ground water from the Kabul Basin is depicted in 

figures 17 and 18. SAR levels are below problematic thresholds 

in the important agricultural areas of Shomali. In central Kabul, 

however, where small agricultural plots are common, there is 

cause for concern in some isolated areas.

Boron

Another parameter that is important for use of ground 

water in irrigation is boron concentration. Concentrations of 

boron exceeding 1,000 μg/L can be problematic for sensitive 

crops like grapes and apples, while boron concentrations in 

excess of 3,000 μg/L are detrimental to more tolerant plants like 

date palms, lettuce, and turnips (U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff, 

1954). Patterns in concentrations of boron are shown in 

figures 19 and 20. Boron concentration exceeds 1,000 μg/L in 

31 of 108 wells sampled in the basin; in three wells (15, 153, 

and 177) the concentration is greater than 3,000 μg/L. The 

highest observed concentration is 7,600 μg/L in well 153 in 

central Kabul.

SAR Na

Ca Mg +

2 --------------------- ⎝ ⎠ ⎛ ⎞ 0.5 = --------------------------------
Ground-Water Quality of the Kabul Basin 27

Figure 16. Spatial distribution of colonies of E. coli in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through

November 2004.

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Base from U.S. Geological Survey Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

69°00' 69°10' 69°20'

34°30'

34°40'

34°50'

E. coli, in colonies per 100 milliliters

EXPLANATION

Less than 1

1 to 10

10 to 100

Greater than 100

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS
28 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 17. Spatial distribution of sodium adsorption ratio in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through

November 2004.

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Base from U.S. Geological Survey Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

69°00' 69°10' 69°20'

34°30'

34°40'

34°50'

Sodium adsorption ratio

EXPLANATION

Less than 1

1 to 2

2 to 4

Greater than 4

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS
Suggestions for Further Work 29

Figure 18. Sodium adsorption ratio in ground water in the Kabul

Basin, Afghanistan, July through November 2004.

0.1

0.01

10

1

100

EXPLANATION

Maximum

75 percentile

Median

25 percentile

SODIUM ADSORPTION RATIO

Minimum

Further Considerations for Ground-Water Use as 

Public Drinking Water

Table 5 lists 24 constituents for which USEPA has issued 

drinking-water standards, health advisories, or secondary 

drinking-water regulations. Although these thresholds of 

concern have no legal weight in Afghanistan, a comparison of 

these values with concentrations measured in ground water in 

the Kabul Basin provides a general measure of the suitability of 

ground water as a healthy source of public water supply. At 

least one of the USEPA thresholds of concern was exceeded in 

at least one well for 14 constituents. Over 10 percent of the 

samples collected in this study had exceedances for dissolved 

solids, boron, E. coli, sulfate, nitrate, or chloride. Boxplots of 

selected constituents are shown in figures 21 and 22.

Suggestions for Further Work

As Afghanistan emerges from years of conflict, as institutional capacities rejuvenate and grow, and as the need for wise 

water-management decisions continues, adequate data and a 

fuller understanding of the ground-water resource in the Kabul 

Basin will be imperative. The work described in this report 

represents only a modest beginning in what will be a long-term 

data collection and interpretive effort.

Major questions regarding ground water in the Kabul 

Basin remain unanswered:

• What is the sustainable yield of ground water in various 

parts of the Kabul Basin?

• How will ground-water resources be affected by continuing drought conditions and by an eventual return to 

more normal climatic patterns?

• How deep are the alluvial systems?

• What is the distribution of hydraulic head in the vertical 

dimension?

• Are there major confining layers and, if so, what is their 

lateral extent?

• Is deeper (>200 m) ground water of suitable quality for 

domestic, agricultural, or industrial use?

• What are patterns of deep regional ground-water flow?

• What are the hydraulic properties of aquifer materials 

in the basin?

Answers to these questions will become available only 

after further investigations. These investigations could include:

• Establishment of a ground-water network with wells of 

known construction from inert materials, well-sealed at 

the surface, nested in the vertical dimension and with 

good three-dimensional coverage of the basin, and with 

secure long-term access

• Regular monitoring of these wells, with monthly 

measurement of water levels and quarterly sampling 

for water quality

• More intensive data collection in alluvial wells, including continuous water-level measurements to define 

interactions between ground water and surface water 

over the seasonal hydrograph

• Better structural characterization and an understanding 

of aquifer heterogeneity in the basin using geophysical 

tools and geologic mapping

• Construction of a ground-water flow model to integrate 

all hydrogeologic data and understanding within a 

quantitative framework that can be used to explore 

scenarios for management and development of the 

ground-water resource
30 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Figure 19. Spatial distribution of boron concentration in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July through

November 2004.

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Base from U.S. Geological Survey Shuttle Radar Topography Mission

data 2000, 90-meter resolution, World Geodetic System 1984

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 42 N

Central Meridian 69o

69°00' 69°10' 69°20'

34°30'

34°40'

34°50'

Boron concentration, in micrograms per liter

EXPLANATION

Less than 500

500 to 1,000

1,000 to 3,000

Greater than 3,000

0 5 MILES

0 5 KILOMETERS
Suggestions for Further Work 31

10

100

10,000

1,000

EXPLANATION

Maximum

75 percentile

Median

25 percentile

Minimum

BORON CONCENTRATION,

IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER

Figure 21. Boxplots of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead in ground water in the Kabul Basin, 

Afghanistan, July through November 2004.

Figure 22. Boxplots of aluminum, iron, manganese, strontium, and zinc in ground water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan,

July through November 2004.

Arsenic CadmiumChromium Copper Nickel

Lead

0.01

0.1

1

10

100

CONCENTRATION,

IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER

PARAMETERS

75th percentile

Maximum

Minimum

Median

25th percentile

Interquartile

range

EXPLANATION

Aluminum Iron ManganeseStrontium Zinc

0.01

0.1

1

10

100

1,000

10,000

100,000

PARAMETERS

CONCENTRATION,

IN MICROGRAMS PER LITER

75th percentile

Maximum

Minimum

Median

25th percentile

Interquartile

range

EXPLANATION

Figure 20. Boron concentration in ground

water in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July

through November 2004.
32 Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan

Table 5. Exceedances of USEPA drinking-water standards, health advisories, and secondary drinking-water

regulations in ground-water samples collected in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, July to November 2004.

[μg/L, micrograms per liter; col/100 mL, colonies per 100 milliliters; mg/L, milligrams per liter]

Constituent Standard Number of

samples

Number of

 exceedances

Percentage of

 exceedances

Highest

 value

Drinking-water standards1

Arsenic (μg/L) 10 108 2 1.9 22.7

Barium (μg/L) 2,000 108 0 0.0 257

Beryllium (μg/L) 4 108 0 0.0 0.05

Cadmium (μg/L) 5 108 0 0.0 2.38

Chromium (μg/L) 100 108 0 0.0 49

Copper (μg/L) 1,300 108 0 0.0 30.6

E. coli (col/100 mL) <1 108 24 22.2 >200

Fluoride (mg/L) 4 108 0 0.0 1.32

Nitrate (mg/L as N) 10 108 14 13.0 144

Lead (μg/L) 15 108 0 0.0 13.1

Selenium (μg/L) 50 108 1 0.9 91.1

Thallium (μg/L) 2 108 0 0.0 <0.12

Health advisories1

Barium (μg/L) 2,000 108 0 0.0 257

Boron (μg/L) 600 108 48 44.4 7,600

Molybdenum (μg/L) 40 108 1 0.9 42.5

Nickel (μg/L) 100 108 0 0.0 88.7

Silver (μg/L) 100 108 0 0.0 0.53

Strontium (μg/L) 4,000 108 5 4.6 22,300

Zinc (μg/L) 2,000 108 3 2.8 5,090

Secondary drinking-water regulations1

Aluminum (μg/L) 50 108 2 1.9 1,570

Chloride (mg/L) 250 104 11 10.6 4,190

Copper (μg/L) 1,000 108 0 0.0 30.6

Dissolved solids (mg/L) 500 107 58 54.2 9,350

Fluoride (mg/L) 2 108 0 0.0 1.32

Iron (μg/L) 300 108 1 0.9 1,690

Manganese (μg/L) 50 108 4 3.7 1,070

Silver (μg/L) 100 108 0 0.0 0.53

Sulfate (mg/L) 250 104 14 13.5 3,030

Zinc (μg/L) 5,000 108 1 0.9 5,090

1

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2004).
Summary 33

Summary

The U.S. Geological Survey has been working with hydrologic engineers at the Afghanistan Geological Survey to 

provide training and equipment and to apply these tools to build 

an inventory of water wells in the Kabul Basin of Afghanistan. 

Training and equipment are being provided in computer 

science, data base management, geographic information 

systems, geographic positioning systems, field hydrogeology, 

and water quality. An inventory of 148 wells now includes 

information on well location, depth, and access. Water-level 

and water-quality measurements have been made at most of 

these wells. A water-level elevation map has been constructed, 

and general directions of ground-water flow have been defined.

Afghanistan lies along the great tectonic upheaval that has 

produced the world’s highest mountain ranges: the Himalaya, 

Karakoram, Pamirs, and the Hindu Kush. In the Kabul area 

orogeny has been accompanied by a complex sequence of 

faulting. Deep grabens in crystalline rocks have formed and 

have filled with hundreds of meters of alluvial, colluvial, and 

lacustrine deposits. Ground-water flow in the Kabul Basin is 

primarily through saturated alluvium and other basin-fill sediments. The water-table surface generally mirrors topography, 

and ground water generally flows in the directions of surfacewater discharge.

The quality of ground water in the Kabul Basin varies 

widely. In some areas ground-water quality is excellent, with 

low concentrations of dissolved solids (less than 500 mg/L) and 

no problematic constituents. In other areas, however, high 

concentrations of dissolved solids and the presence of some 

constituents at concentrations deemed harmful to humans and 

crops render untreated ground water marginal or unsuitable for 

public supply and/or agricultural use. Of particular concern are 

elevated concentrations of nitrate, boron, and dissolved solids, 

and an indication of fecal contamination in some parts of the 

basin. Nitrate concentration exceeds the USEPA drinking-water 

standard of 10 mg/L as N in 14 of 108 samples. Boron concentration exceeds 1,000 μg/L in 31 of 108 samples. The concentration of dissolved solids exceeds 500 mg/L in 58 of 107 

samples. E. coli is present in 24 of 108 samples.

As Afghanistan emerges from years of conflict, as institutional capacities rejuvenate and grow, and as the need for wise 

water-management decisions continues, adequate data and a 

fuller understanding of the ground-water resource in the Kabul 

Basin will be imperative. The work described in this report 

represents only a modest beginning in what will be a long-term 

data collection and interpretive effort. This effort could include 

construction of a network of wells for periodic measurement of 

water levels and water quality. Geophysical tools could be 

applied to develop a better understanding of how geologic 

structure controls ground-water flow in the basin. Finally, all 

aspects of the hydrologic work eventually could be expressed in 

a ground-water flow model that can be used to explore scenarios 

for development of the ground-water resource. 

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Text layout by Ella M. Decker, USGS, Huron, South Dakota.

Graphics layout by Connie J. Ross, USGS, Huron, South Dakota.

This publication is available online at URL

 http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/sir2005-5090

Prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey:

U.S. Geological Survey

Denver Federal Center

Box 25046, MS 406

Lakewood, CO 80225-0046
P

rinted onrecycled paper

Broshears and others—Inventory of Ground-Water Resources in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan—Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5090