Traditional Water Management Systems in Afghanistan; Lessons for the Future

Abstract As far as the Afghans could remember, water resources management was a fundamental part of their life. They learned through history to administer the available water supplies to deal with their environment’s challenges. Also, climate change intensifies the problems at present. The Afghan communities by using techniques and rules could manage the water. Mir Ab is the person, administering the water distribution systems and works along with local communities to regulate water efficiently and fairly. Mir Ab controls the systems such as karezes, canals, and wells which has important role in different places around Afghanistan based on their geographical settings. Firstly, Kareze plays a critical role in water management and consisted of multiple shafts and main inclined tunnel to bring subsurface water to the surface. Secondly, Canals brings waters to the areas where are rather close to main rivers. Thirdly, wells used in most area and the common one, traditionally, they provide drinking water for societies. Understanding the traditional water supplies facilities in the country remind Afghan people that water is highly valuable commodity, and then the current water associated officials should pay more attention and do their best to manage it. The main goal of this work is highlighting the importance of water for our ancestors, while it ignored significantly by current Government of Afghanistan. Besides, providing a guideline map to look forward and applying right strategies. In short, we hope this paper remind those who are responsible in this field to value the importance of water in Afghanistan.