Capital's water requirement grows manifold

As the federal capital's population continues to grow unhindered, the city's natural resources are under extreme pressure, with water availability becoming the top most challenge for the authorities. Although the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is making every possible effort to overcome the shortfall in water availability through numerous measures, the situation demands a holistic approach to a long-term solution.

Since Islamabad's population has grown more than double during the last 20 years or so, the pressure on already available resources like Simly, Rawal and Khanpur dams has increased manifold. Then the development of more and more housing societies to meet the residential demands of people shifting to capital from other cities has made the situation further challenging.

The growing population has raised water demand to around 120 million gallons per day (MGD) and if this trend continues the demand will further increase exerting extra pressure on available water resources. Similarly, the groundwater table that was around 10 meters deep in the 1960s has now gone down to 60 to 120 meters.

Moreover, climate change is also impacting water availability by altering precipitation patterns as Islamabad experiences an average annual rainfall of about 1,300 mm which is insufficient to counterbalance the high demand.

"Although the situation is challenging, the CDA has initiated several measures to address the water shortfall," said Sardar Khan Zimri, the Director General of Water Management at the CDA. "With the population growth and emergence of new settlements, increase in water demand is natural and the Authority is fully cognisant of its duties," he further said, adding more options were in sight with the proposed construction of two new dams, Shahdra and Chiniot, to augment existing water supply.

Zimri added that the CDA had plans to modernise the water distribution network and sewage treatment plants. He said that the CDA Board had approved pre-feasibility studies for Shahdra and Chaniot Dam to speed up the planning process and had requested WAPDA to conduct a pre-feasibility study for Dotara Dam, a site located 41km upstream of Khanpur Dam. "If the civic agency succeeds in laying a gravity tunnel from Dotara Dam via Shahdara, it would be able to generate around 10 to 13 megawatts of electricity as well."

"We have also decided to resume work on a non-completed water conduction pipeline from Shah Allah Ditta reservoir to Sector I-11, I-12, I-14, I-15, I-16 etc. Tenders have been called for three missing portions from Shah Allah Ditta to Sector G-13 with starting work on one portion.

Citizens voice concerns

The residents of the federal capital have urged to frame a comprehensive strategy once and for all to settle this issue as the rising population may lead to difficult times ahead.

"We need timely measures to ensure that our future generations live in a better environment with all required basic facilities available for them," said a concerned mother Maria.