Karachi's water supply affected as another pipeline bursts

This is the second 72-inch pipeline to burst at Dhabeji due to electricity breakdowns

KARACHI: Electricity breakdowns at the central Dhabeji pumping station have become a common occurrence. A power breakdown on Monday morning caused a 72-inch Qatar pipeline to burst. This is the second pipeline which has burst in the past four days. On Friday, another 72-inch pipeline had burst, severely affecting the water supply to the city. As 80% of Karachi's water supply comes from the Dhabeji station, the breakdowns have worsened the water crisis in the city. Citizens' patience is now waning and protests broke out in the city against the water crisis.

Although both pipelines have been repaired on the directives of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board managing director, the city's water supply was short 10m gallons of water on Monday while Friday's breakdown had caused a shortage of 340m gallons of water as compared to the routine water supply to the city.

As Karachi already faces a shortage of 600m gallons of water, the recent power breakdowns and subsequent damage of pipelines has aggravated the problem. KWSB MD said that frequent electricity breakdowns have worsened water scarcity in the city.

All efforts are being made to supply water despite limited resources, he said. According to him, it will take another two to three days for the city's water supply to resume as normal.

He advised citizens to use water with caution.

Areas where water supply has not resumed as normal since Friday include the Old City Area, Lyari, Kemari, Korangi, Gulshan Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Malir, Landhi, Model Colony, Manzoor Colony, Mehmoodabad, Ahsanabad, Gulshan-e-Maymar, and Orangi Town, among others.

Protests have broken out in the city. Citizens claim water supply is suspended for many days. Water has become a scarce commodity, especially in hot weather, they lament.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2019.