WASA struggles to keep pace with city expansion

Lack of a uniform policy and coordination between various departments has led to difficulties in overcoming the shortage of drinking water in Lahore.

Amid a declining groundwater level, citizens of several areas are facing difficulties in meeting household needs, including cooking food.

The residents are forced to visit offices of various departments to solve their drinking water and sewerage problems.

The provincial capital is spread over 1,770 square kilometres and its population has crossed 12 million.

The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has the responsibility to ensure maintenance of the drinking water and sewerage systems in densely populated areas. However, WASA is providing facilities in only 770 square km area, while the remaining 1,000 square km is out of its jurisdiction. Federal and provincial departments, cantonment boards, railways and private housing societies are providing the facilities to the citizens in accordance with their own rules. According to an estimate, WASA is providing 70 gallons of water per person to a population of seven million. For the purpose, WASA has installed 596 tube wells, including 150 with the help of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency and Punjab government. However, about 40 per cent of the tube wells are 12 to 15 years old. About 15% of the tube wells are out of date. Many of them are dysfunctional due to lack of groundwater.

WASA has suspended the installation of new tube wells. Depletion of water level and pollution in Ravi river are worsening the situation.

About 10 years ago, underground water used to be 400 to 500 feet below the surface, but the tube wells were later installed for a depth of 900 feet and the water level is depleting by one metre every year. On instructions of Punjab government, WASA has started providing water to the citizens for 10 hours a day instead of 24 hours.

SOURCE: WATER AND SANITATION AGENCY

WASA used to supply 650 million gallons of water to the citizens but now it is providing 540 million gallons. There are 549 filtration plants within the limits of the metropolitan corporation, but complaints about faults are being recieved. The city currently has 250 smart filtration plants set up by private businesses that are selling water for 15 to 18 hours, but the problems of water supply are increasing.

WASA is taking steps to raise the groundwater level as well as recycling water used in mosques and parks. An awareness campaign for water conservation was also launched.

Help was also sought from the police to curb misuse of water by by citizens. However, the campaign has been stalled for several months now.

The Punjab government has tried to bring all the related provincial departments under one umbrella under the new local government system. But influential political and administrative figures have created obstacles in this regard. The new local government system has been introduced but the process of division of responsibilities among the departments is still stalled.

Experts of civic affairs suggest a unified system covering municipal services, building rules, metropolitan planning, water supply and sewerage systems.

WASA Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz said the organisation is providing clean drinking water to the citizens as well as initiating short and long-term projects to raise the groundwater level in the city. However, he said providing 24-hour water supply in Lahore was not possible for WASA. The water is being supplied in the morning, afternoon and evening.

He said the citizens should save water by using underground and rooftop tanks, as well as using water at the times of supply.

The MD said WASA was not responsible for the parts of the city that did not gall under its jurisdiction. He said the steps taken so far to raise the groundwater level were bringing improvement but more work was needed.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2020.