76% of drinking water in Faisalabad unsafe
Around 76% of drinking water samples collected from Faisalabad district have been found chemically unfit for human consumption, according to a report by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED).
Out of 743 samples tested, only 156 were deemed potable, raising serious concerns about water safety in both urban and rural areas.
Sources revealed that before launching the water quality testing program from July to October 2024, the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KIOCA) had trained PHED staff in proper sampling methods.
The testing covered 189 selected union councils across Faisalabad's six tehsils, with the following results: Chak Jhumra (16 safe samples), Jaranwala (52), Tandlianwala (22), Sammundri (12), Faisalabad Saddar (13), and Faisalabad City (50).
While 87% of the samples (645) were found bacteriologically safe, 112 were classified as brinerendering them completely unsuitable for human use.
Experts warn that Faisalabad's groundwater is increasingly contaminated due to unchecked industrial waste being discharged into open drains and fields.
These toxic effluents, containing heavy metals and other pollutants, seep into the soil, ultimately contaminating underground water sources.
Faisalabad's water crisis is further exacerbated by the city's reliance on groundwater, which fulfills over 91% of its drinking and industrial needs.
Open drains, used as informal sewers, are a major source of bacterial contamination, with pollutants infiltrating the water table at depths of 15 meters.
The naturally brackish nature of Faisalabad's groundwater further limits safe drinking water options, though fresh water zones have developed in shallow aquifers along branch canals due to seepage.
A previous report by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) painted an equally alarming picture.
Based on a five-year water quality monitoring program, the study found that 42% of samples were contaminated with E. coli and coliform bacteria, while an equal percentage contained excessive levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and sulphates.
Additionally, groundwater in Faisalabad was found to contain high levels of fluoride and permanent hardness, making it unsuitable for consumption.
Health experts warn that consuming contaminated groundwater directly can lead to serious health issues, including hepatitis A, gastrointestinal illnesses, nausea, and eye and respiratory irritations.
Residents of Faisalabad are more prone to the hazard, where the only means to drain out industrial, domestic and even rainwater is the sewerage system of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA).
In the rainy season, the sewerage system starts overflowing towards low-lying areas and open spaces, later seeping into the groundwater, badly affecting the low-income groups who commonly use it for drinking.