Image

Knowledge space

Center for Natural Resources and Sustainability DKU

DKU Logo
UNESCO Logo

Authors

  • Maiwand Omary

    Groundwater quality assessment using water quality index and geospatial tools: Kabul Province case study

    Year: 2024

    Collections: Scientific Publications

    Topics: Water

    Authors: Maiwand Omary, Mohammad Najim Nasimi, Mohammad Nasim Nasimi

    Countries: Afghanistan

    Source: https://water-ca.org

    This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of Kabul Province’s groundwater for drinking by way of analyzing the data collected from 34 ground monitoring wells. The purpose was helped through the assessment of a set of groundwater physico-chemical parameters (pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS); sulfate, fluoride, nitrate, and boron content; total hardness (TH) as calcium carbonate, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and total iron), as well as the determination of the Water Quality Index (WQI) developed based on sampling the water points located in the districts of Kabul Province and Kabul City in the course of 3 years (2018 to 2020) to provide a clear and concise representation of water quality status, and cat-egorize groundwater into different quality classes ranging from “excellent” to “unsuitable for drinking”. Moreover, the spatial distribution of WQI and 12 physico-chemical parameter values was mapped using the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) Interpolation in Arcmap 10.7 environment, revealing distinct water quality patterns across the study area. The water qual-ity testing outcomes under this investigation show compliance of multiple water contaminant concentrations with the World Health Organization (WHO) Water Quality Guidelines and Afghanistan National Drinking Water Quality Standards (ANDWQS). The WQI values range between 27.5 and 112 (as per ANDWQS) and between 33 and 127.5 (as per WHO Guide-lines); the WQI (WHO) display 9% and WQI (ANDWQS) display 3% of groundwater unsuit-able for drinking. Spatial variation maps (IDW Interpolation) demonstate that turbidity, TDS, TH, and magnesium concentration values for the provinces’s central and eastern sec-tions exceed the permissible thresholds. The study’s findings underscore the need for target-ed groundwater management strategies, including pollution control and regular monitoring, to safeguard water quality and public health in Kabul Province.


    PV-RO drinking water filtration system: case of Qala-e-Gulbaz Village, Kabul Province

    Year: 2025

    Collections: Scientific Publications

    Topics: Water, Climate

    Authors: Maiwand Omary

    Countries: Afghanistan

    Source: https://water-ca.org

    Pollution and over-exploitation of groundwater aquifers in Kabul Province have led to deteriorated water quality and decreased quantity. In its turn, these have caused elevation of physical, chemical, and biological contaminant concentrations in the province’s groundwater beyond national and international drinking water quality standards. The article describes the outcomes of a pilot photovoltaic reverse osmosis (PV-RO) system for drinking water treatment in Qala-e-Gulbaz Village, Kabul Province, Afghanistan. The main system’s components include PV solar panels, three dosing pumps, two alternative current pumps, two alternative-to-direct-current inverters, sand and carbon filters, two sediment filters, one ultra-violet filter, two water flow meters, and a complete water supply distribution system. The study was assisted by the Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR) ground monitoring well (GMW) system; quality analysis of different physical, chemical, and biological parameters of raw and filtered water samples; measuring filtered water and wastewater flow rates; determining associated limitations and pressures; as well as valuating different related expenses during cost per capita calculations. Water quality testing has shown the system’s removal efficiency of 97% for salinity, 97% for total dissolved solids, above 90% for other chemicals (anions & cations), 65.52% for turbidity, and 100% for bacteria. The plant’s mean quantity efficiency has amounted to 50%. The study highlights certain key challenges including high initial cost, significant wastewater volume, and need for professional operators leading to high operational and maintenance expenditures, with the initial system’s cost per capita of USD79.54. Therefore, under the condition of optimizing efficiency, improving wastewater management, reducing original costs, implementing training programs, and developing the necessary policy framework PV-RO water treatment systems represent a viable alternative.



  • Makhmudova L.

    Anthropogenic Impacts in the Yesil River Basin

    Year: 2023

    Collections: Research Paper

    Topics: Water

    Authors: Makhmudova L., Mussina A., Ospanova M., Zharylkassyn A., Kanatuly A.

    Countries: Kazakhstan

    Source: Central Asian Journal of Water Research

    The research aimed to assess the impact of human economic activities on the Yesil River Basin based on the observational data contained in Kazhydromet’s (Republic State Enterprise, RSE) hydrometeorological periodicals of 1933-2019. The additional analysis of numerous sources – statistics digests, online data of the Bureau of National Statistics under the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan (RK), monographs and scientific papers also allowed to reliably evaluate the overall water consumption in the country.



  • Manuel Andresh

    Hydrogen production in Kazakhstan and Trans-Caspian Hydrogen Transportation

    Year: 2024

    Collections: Policy Briefs

    Topics: Energy

    Authors: Kobzev A., Manuel Andresh, Abylaikhan Soltanayev, Nurbek Yessetov

    Countries: Kazakhstan

    Source:



  • Margaret O. Wilder

    Hydrodiplomacy and adaptive governance at the U.S.-Mexico border: 75 years of tradition and innovation in transboundary water management

    Year: 2020

    Collections: Scientific Publications, Review article

    Topics: Water, Water governance Water diplomacy,

    Authors: et al., Margaret O. Wilder

    Countries:

    Source: Environmental Science and Policy

    The United States and Mexico have engaged in hydrodiplomacy—a practice of transboundary water management that blends water diplomacy and science diplomacy–for more than 75 years, since the adoption of the Treaty of 1944 and the creation of the International Boundary and Water Commission. We examine six major turning points in U.S.-Mexico hydrodiplomacy to ascertain the key factors in the region’s history of resolving transboundary water issues. We find that recognized adaptive governance indicators—such as social learning, sustained relationships, flexible governance mechanisms, and state and non-state networks are essential elements of hydrodiplomacy. Our research suggests that robust and foundational institutions comprise another key indicator of adaptive governance specifically in transboundary contexts. A commitment to both science and diplomacy have been important components underlying the effectiveness of hydrodiplomacy in the border region. Binational networks involving diverse state and non-state actors at multiple scales have increasingly played a pivotal role in shaping desirable hydrodiplomatic outcomes in the region.



  • Margreet Zwarteveen

    Gender Dynamics in Transboundary Water Governance: Feminist Perspectives on Water Conflict and Cooperation

    Year: 2023

    Collections: Scientific Publications, Books

    Topics: Water diplomacy, Water, Gender, Water governance

    Authors: Rozemarijn ter Horst, Jenniver Sehring, Margreet Zwarteveen

    Countries:

    Source: Routledge. Taylor & Francis

    This volume assesses the nexus of gender and transboundary water governance, containing empirical case studies, discourse analyses, practitioners’ accounts, and theoretical refections.



  • Marko Keskinen

    Exploring 100 Years of Finnish Transboundary Water Interactions With Russia: An Historical Analysis of Diplomacy and Cooperation

    Year: 2022

    Collections: Scientific Publications, Review article

    Topics: Water, Water governance Water diplomacy,

    Authors: Juho Haapala, Marko Keskinen

    Countries:

    Source: Water Alternatives, 15(1), 93-128

    This study combines the strengths of historical studies and analytical approaches on transboundary water interactions to establish an historical process perspective on transboundary waters. The study analytically separates transboundary water cooperation, water diplomacy, and their broader political setting, and analyses their interplay over a long period of time. The paper presents a detailed case study on the development and transformation of Finnish-Russian transboundary water interactions over the last 100 years, with an emphasis on Finland and its relationship with the Soviet Union/Russia after World War II.


    Trust in Transboundary Waters: Identifying Trust-Building in Water Diplomacy Literature

    Year: 2023

    Collections: Scientific Publications, Review article

    Topics: Water, Water diplomacy

    Authors: Juho Haapala, Marko Keskinen, Elina Häkkinen, Bota Sharipova

    Countries:

    Source: Water Alternatives 16(3): 949-977

    This paper examines trust and trust-building activities in literature related to water diplomacy, linking them to conceptualisations of trust in the fields of international relations and natural resource management. The reviewed publications and key informant interviews emphasise the importance of trust in water diplomacy processes. The literature and interviews also allow us to identify ten categories of potential trust-building activities in water diplomacy.


    Water diplomacy paths – An approach to recognise water diplomacy actions in shared waters

    Year: 2021

    Collections: Scientific Publications, Review article

    Topics: Water, Water diplomacy

    Authors: Juho Haapala, Marko Keskinen, Erik Salminen

    Countries:

    Source: Journal of Hydrology

    In this article, we seek to contribute to the practice of water diplomacy by introducing a step-wise Water Diplomacy Paths approach for analysing different water diplomacy contexts and related water diplomacy actions. To facilitate this, we recognise five key aspects for water diplomacy (Political; Preventive; Integrative; Cooperative; Technical) and propose a general definition for water diplomacy. We also discuss the possible distinctions between the related concepts of water diplomacy and transboundary water cooperation. The use of the Water Diplomacy Paths approach is demonstrated with brief case studies focusing on Central Asia, the Mekong Region, and the Finnish-Russian water cooperation. The work builds on an extensive literature review and comparative analysis of water diplomacy approaches as well as on a series of workshops and interviews among selected water diplomacy actors, including career diplomats.



  • Martens Patrick

    The political economy of water insecurity in Central Asia given the Belt and Road initiative

    Year: 2018

    Collections: Scientific Publications

    Topics: Water, Sustainable Development

    Authors: Martens Patrick

    Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan

    Source: Central Asian Journal of Water Research



  • Martina Klimes

    Routledge Handbook of Water Diplomacy

    Year: 2025

    Collections: Books

    Topics: Water, Climate, Sustainable Development, Management, Water diplomacy, Water governance Gender, IWRM, Agriculture, Irrigation,

    Authors: Shafiqul Islam, Kevin Smith, Martina Klimes, Aaron Salzberg

    Countries: N/A

    Source: Routledge

    The Routledge Handbook of Water Diplomacy is a comprehensive guide to understanding and practicing water diplomacy – a framework for building relationships, negotiating shared interests, and managing complex water challenges across physical, political, and societal boundaries.



  • Martin-Luther


  • Masoomi B.

    The Effects of Pre-Ozonation on Drinking Water Quality Parameters

    Year: 2021

    Collections: Research Paper

    Topics: Water

    Authors: Masoomi B., Jaafarzadeh N., Tabatabaie Tayebeh, Jorfi S., Kouhgardi E.

    Countries: Iran

    Source: Central Asian Journal of Water Research



For questions about cooperation, please contact us at:

Join us on social networks: