WASA okays rainwater harvesting project

Rainwater harvesting system to be installed at seven locations for Rs25.8m

RAWALPINDI:

The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has approved the project of installing seven new state-of-the-art eco-friendly technology rainwater harvesting systems and building water tanks at seven locations of the city.

The project, aimed at storing rainwater and making it reusable through filtration, has been approved with an estimated cost of Rs26.8 million under the Annual Development Programme (ADP).

The largest system will be installed at the WASA office at an estimated cost of Rs2.78m. On the other hand, the second contemporary system, which is expected to cost Rs1.99m, will be installed in the mosque situated in Liaquat Bagh.

The third system will be installed at the Government Girls Associate College Sir Syed Road for Rs5 million. An approval has also been given to install the system in the office of the District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer with an estimated cost of Rs2.62m. The rainwater harvesting plant will also be installed at the Government Shehbaz Sharif Boys Degree College Khayaban Sir Syed with an estimated Rs3.3m, the Government Girls High School Khayaban Sir Syed Rs5.49m m, the Government Girls High School Bagh Sardaran Rs5.51m.

This project will be completed in a month and companies have also been asked to submit tenders for the project by March 26. The contracts will be awarded in April.

According to the Wasa managing director, the rainwater could be used to irrigate trees and plants besides house and office washing, laundry, gardening, and car washing. The rainwater will also help enhance the city's water reserves, he adds.

Four educational institutions, the head office of the Health Department, Wasa and a huge mosque will get this cutting-edge plant technology in the first phase. Following the pilot project, the system will be placed in all of Rawalpindi's universities, colleges, large mosques, and government offices.

Monsoon rainwater will be filtered through the project which is a low-cost, people-friendly and environment-friendly project. This project will also eliminate the waste of rainwater.

As millions of gallons of water are being wasted in rivers and drains, the project will also start saving, consuming and using it. The new annual development programme will include projects to install more than 100 of these modern eco-friendly rainwater filter and storage plants.