WASA ramps up water quality checks

A comprehensive water quality testing campaign is being launched for all Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) sources and end users.

A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) DG Kinza Murtaza, to discuss this campaign, during which WASA MD stated that a water quality analysis lab has been established at Rawal Lake filtration plant to regularly monitor & analyse the quality of water supplied through Rawal Lake filtration plant, the overhead reservoirs of Khanpur Dam and other mini filtration plants and tube-wells that fall under the jurisdiction of WASA. The lab would also assess the quality of water in the distribution system as it reaches the consumer’s tap.

Presently, the WASA Lab is analysing three kinds of water quality parameters, which are, physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters. Physical parameters include water appearance, temperature, PH level, turbidity, conductance, dissolved oxygen and its Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) level.

The Chemical parameters include water alkalinity, hardness, its levels of various minerals such as sulphate, calcium, magnesium, chlorides, residual chlorine, sulphite, nitrite, ammonia, iron and arsenic. The Bacteriological parameters include the water’s total coliform count and faecal coliform count.

The WASA Assistant Director of Water Quality has been given responsibility for the collection, analysis and submission of the water quality testing report according to WHO guidelines for safe drinking water.

A comprehensive plan for regular monitoring of water quality for surface and groundwater sources of WASA has already been prepared and implemented.

Rawalpindi City has been divided into six zones: West-I, East-I, West-II, East-II, PP-12 and PP-13. The Assistant Director inspects and takes samples of 40 tube-wells and 10 mini filtration plants along with laboratory staff every week. The monitoring plan of all of WASA’s jurisdiction is expected to be complete in three months.

The WASA MD further added that WASA is operating 127 mini filtration plants in its jurisdiction which were rehabilitated under the Punjab government’s cleanliness drive.

After the meeting, the WASA DG emphasised the importance of water quality being supplied to the citizens of Rawalpindi. She expressed her satisfaction with the current mechanism of ensuring water quality by Rawalpindi WASA.

However, she further directed that there will be zero tolerance for contaminated water. “In this regard, all SOPs should be observed strictly. I will monitor the water quality myself and any negligence will be dealt with strict action,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2024.