Pipeline leakage to cause city-wide water shortage

Seven-foot water main has spud three leaks

KARACHI:

Karachi is expected to face severe water shortages in the coming days due to a leakage in the 84-inch diameter water pipeline.

Considering the volume of the mainline, it is most likely that swathes of city areas will be left parched in the coming week.

The water tanker owners have already increased their service charges in Clifton and DHA. Repairs on the pipeline near Ghazi Goth Safoora began Thursday and are expected to be completed within four days, with work being carried out continuously to ensure timely completion.

The city's daily water supply is 650 million gallons per day (MGD), and the repair work will cause a shortage of 200 MGD, resulting in the city receiving 450 MGD.

Further, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) announced that the work will result in the partial suspension of water supply to areas including NEPA, Liaquatabad, Jamshed Town, Jinnah Town, Saddar, Old City Area, PIB Colony, Hyderabad Colony, Landhi, Korangi, and DHA.

Meanwhile, an investigation by Express found that the affected pipeline has three points of leakage, which may require the replacement of pipes. The line, known as Siphon 19, is one of 20 lines supplying water to the city, and it will be checked when the water supply is shut off, to see if there are further leaks in other places.