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  • 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:



  • 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



  • 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



  • Mayar M. A.


  • Michael Walther

    Manual and Guideline of Water Assessment in Central Asia

    Year: 2025

    Collections: Manuals

    Topics: Water, IWRM

    Authors: Kogutenko Larissa, Safiya Asalbekova, Michael Walther

    Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan

    Source: Journal of MOLARE Research Centre (MRC)

    Why water monitoring and assessment are important?

    Water quality assessment is one of the crucial scientific and practical analyses to identify the possibility of water consumption for different human needs and nature/ecosystem conservation for future generations. Water quality can be measured and monitored in rivers, springs, creeks, swamps, estuaries, wetlands and lakes what is called aquatic systems. Quality parameters, such as biological, chemical and physical indicators identify the combination of values that influence the composition of water. Monitoring and comparison of different water habitats (macro invertebrates) in biological monitoring provides an information of water quality and allows to make a quick assessment.



  • Mira Dzhakshylykova


  • Mirkasimov Bakhrom

    Current challenges in Central Asian water governance and their implications for research, higher education, and science-policy interaction

    Year: 2025

    Collections: Scientific Publications

    Topics: Water, IWRM

    Authors: Gafurov A., Ziganshina Dinara, Assubayeva A., Nodir Djanibekov, Abdullaev Iskandar, Bobojonov Ihtiyor, Dombrowsky Ines, Hamidov Ahmad, Herrfahrdt-Pähle Elke, Janusz-Pawletta Barbara, Ishangulyyev Rovshen, Kasymov Ulan, Mirkasimov Bakhrom, Petrick Martin, Strobehn Katrin

    Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan

    Source: water-ca.org

    Political tensions over water management in the Central Asia region have intensified since the Soviet era, as ecological issues like the drying Aral Sea and seasonal hydropower disruptions impact downstream countries. The paper discusses the region’s water governance challenges, including climate-induced uncertainties, water resource demands, and the limited capacity of local research institutions. While Central Asia’s governments have initiated reforms, including new infrastructure and agreements, resilience in water management remains underdeveloped. The paper also explores the role of higher education institutions in fostering capacity-building for sustainable governance, emphasizing the need for local expertise and regional collaboration. The proposed establishment of a Central Asian water research platform aims to enhance science-policy integration, promote sustainable water governance, and support informed regional cooperation on transboundary water issues.



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