On May 31, 2009, the Afghan Government transferred the Kabul Department of the Central Authority for Water Supply and Sewage (CAWSS) to a new corporation, the Afghan Urban Water Supply and Sewage Corporation (AUWSSC). The corporatization process takes poorly functioning public companies, and transforms them into organizations that provide better services – like clean water and sanitation – to the Afghan people. With USAID support, CAWSS was the first state-owned enterprise in Afghanistan to be restructured as a corporation, with more effective and efficient operational, commercial, and financial management.
The transfer included more than $31.4M in assets and $3.4M in liabilities, including 66 individual pieces of land with associated buildings, 43 wells, 18 reservoirs, and more than 600 kilometers of the water transfer network. The corporatization of CAWSS is a significant step in the creation of a more effective and comprehensive water and sanitation service supply in urban Afghanistan. Kabul residents will enjoy better access to clean water and sanitation services, as well as a more sustainable water supply, which will strengthen public health and hygiene. Improved wastewater management practices will also help to protect and preserve the environment in Kabul and surrounding areas.