USE OF WATER RESOURCES IN THE KABUL RIVER BASIN
The article considers the issues and prospects of water use in the Kabul River basin (Afghanistan) taking into account the analysis of the current water management situation and taking into account the forecasts of the economic development compiled on the basis of the demographic data. The general scheme of water use, organization of water supply, provision of the population with water and sanitary drainage structures is presented. The analysis of the water resources use and structure of water management of Afghanistan in the Kabul river basin showed a wide use of groundwater to supply urban and rural population, livestock and irrigation while surface waters of rivers are hardly used by the population and sectors of the economy. The fulfilled analysis of the water use structure in the territory of the Kabul river basin showed that: 55% of the demand for water is provided by underground water,23% – by surface river runoff, 12% – by glacial water and 10% – by rain runoff. Comprehensive calculations based on the compilation of water management balances were carried out. Risks of water shortages and river pollution for the 2020 year and for the future until 2035 were checked for the estimated years on the provision of river fl ow of the Kabul River by 74% and 95%. A set of water management, water protection and management measures has been developed and recommended to prevent and eliminate the identified possible negative trends in water use. The analysis of the quality of water resources in Afghanistan was carried out which showed that the situation with water resources in the country has been noticeably improving in recent years.