Another water crisis looms in the city

A water crisis has returned to haunt residents in most neighbourhoods of the metropolitan city as the 84-inch water pipeline, which was damaged during development works and repaired only eight days ago, has started leaking again.

The Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) has started fresh efforts to ensure water supply to the city of nearly three million people. A KWSC meeting has been called on Thursday which will decide on whether the repair work will involve shutting off the water temporarily or maintaining supply.

The initial problem began on Dec 3, when the pipeline ruptured at two locations due to the ongoing Red Line construction, causing a major disruption to water supply. The repair work lasted for eight days, during which over 2.5 billion gallons of water could not be delivered to the city, resulting in widespread shortages.

Although the supply was restored after the repairs, a new leak has now been detected, causing water to accumulate in a pit. There are concerns that the leakage may worsen over time, further exacerbating the situation. During the previous crisis, Karachi residents spent over Rs3 billion purchasing water to meet their needs. With the possibility of another major water shortage looming, citizens may once again face challenges in securing a reliable water supply.