Authorities have completed arrangements for the annual desilting of the 12-kilometre open water channel supplying drinking water to Rawalpindi and Islamabad from Khanpur Dam.
The desilting operation will commence on February 10 and continue until February 20, significantly reducing the daily water supply to both cities by 60 to 70 per cent.
Water supply to Rawalpindi and Islamabad will remain partially suspended until February 23. During this period, Rawalpindi's daily water supply will drop from 19 million gallons to 6 million gallons, while Islamabad's supply will decrease from 9.6 million gallons to 4 million gallons.
The open water channel transports water from Khanpur Dam to the Sangjani water filtration plant, where it is treated before distribution to the twin cities.
According to government sources, the desilting operation is part of the dam's annual maintenance programme, and the central filtration plant in Sangjani will also be cleaned during this period.
Residents and businesses have been advised to use water cautiously. However, those in urgent need of water can contact the water supply branch for assistance. The supply from Khanpur Dam is expected to return to normal by February 23.
The desilting work has been contracted to a private firm, deploying both heavy and small-scale machinery.
Authorities, including the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for Islamabad and the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) for Rawalpindi, have issued advisories urging citizens to conserve water during this period.
They have specifically recommended avoiding car washes, lawn irrigation, and other non-essential water use to ensure sufficient availability for drinking and household needs.
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