World Water Day: Experts stress need for conservation of water

UAF VC says people should be charged according to their use of water

FAISALABAD: Water should be used carefully and treatment of domestic and wastewater is the need of the hour to overcome deteriorating groundwater situation.

This was the crux of the views expressed at a seminar held in connection with World Water Day at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) on Saturday.

Speaking at the event, UAF Vice-Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that they were facing various challenges like water and climate change. One of the major socio-economic challenges was the mismanagement of water, he added.

“There is no life without water. Water is essential for irrigation, food insecurity, economic growth, energy production, industries and human survival,” he said, adding there is a dire need for promoting the rational use of water across the country to save coming generation.

The industrial waste should be treated, he said, adding that heavy water was being pumped out from tubewells which is declining the groundwater level and worsening water quality. He also suggested that people should be charged according to their use of water.

Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) Managing Director Zahid Aziz said that the city’s master plan study for the next 20 years is being undertaken by JICA under technical cooperation. He called for the construction of more treatment plants to cover all wastewater of the city as expected to be proposed in the master plan study.

Singapore, Australia and Namibia, and several states in California, Virginia and New Mexico are already drinking recycled water, he pointed out. He said that nearly all small towns in Western Australia and many throughout Australia recycle their wastewater almost 100%.  In Singapore 30 % drinking water comes from recycled wastewater.

The use of recycled water in horticulture, industrial and residential areas has increased considerably over the past decade, he said, adding that purified wastewater can be safe, clean and help ease water shortages.

Dr Iqrar said that majority of wastewater flows back to nature without being treated or reused, which was not only polluting the environment but the country was losing valuable nutrients and other recoverable materials.

UAF’s Agri Engineering Department’s Dean Dr Allah Bakhsh said that per capita water availability has reduced to 900 cubic metre, which was 5000 cubic metre at the time of partition. Climate changes were smashing the agronomic pattern of the country, he said, adding that joint efforts on the part of researchers, policy makers and other stakeholders were need of the hour. There was a need to promote the drip irrigation for the rational usage of the water, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2017.