Anti-smog guns risk aggravating water scarcity in Lahore

2.2 million liters of water per day would be required to operate the water canons

LAHORE:

Lahore, already facing a rapidly declining groundwater crisis, may face a new threat of water scarcity due to the Punjab government’s use of water cannons or anti-smog guns to reduce smog and air pollution.

As the smog season approaches, water cannon vehicles can be seen across various roads in Lahore spraying fine mist into the air to reduce dust and particulate matter. In the initial phase, fifteen vehicles are being used on a trial basis in different areas. Each water cannon can hold 12,000 liters of water and completes its spraying cycle within an hour.

According to Sajid Bashir, spokesperson for the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 16 air quality monitors installed across Lahore help identify areas where pollution levels are expected to rise, and water cannons are deployed there. “After fog cannons were used in the Kahna area, the concentration of PM10 particles in the air dropped by almost 70 per cent. The EPA has formed a technical committee to assess the impact of the water cannons by analyzing air quality data from different regions,” said Bashir.

However, environmental experts cite anti-smog guns as merely a “smog theatre” creating the illusion of cleaner air for a short time. Maryam Shah, communications specialist at Pakistan Air Quality Initiative, explained that while these water cannons can bring short-term relief in certain areas, their scientific effectiveness was extremely limited. “For instance, China had also experimented with this technology for a while but eventually abandoned it because it did not significantly reduce smog levels,” highlighted Shah.

The EPA, however, has rejected the notion that the project is unscientific. The agency’s spokesperson stated that the research conducted in China was on a limited scale and that their climatic conditions were different from Lahore’s. “The anti-smog guns used in Lahore are designed according to local weather conditions and wind speeds,” assured the official.

On the other hand, Dr Muhammad Yaseen, a water resources expert at the Centre for Integrated Mountain Research, University of Punjab, expressed his skepticism over the policy. “Using water cannons is only a temporary fix since it consumes enormous amounts of water. Given that Lahore is already facing a severe water scarcity issue, the use of these cannons could make matters even worse,” warned Dr Yaseen.

According to WASA (Water and Sanitation Agency) data, Lahore’s groundwater table is dropping by two to three feet each year, and since the 1960s, it has fallen by more than 18 meters. In the 1980s, water could be found at a depth of 15 meters, but in some areas, it now lies below 70 meters. The city’s daily water demand exceeds 480 million gallons, almost entirely met by underground reserves.

Environmental lawyer Altamash Saeed pointed out that if a single water cannon operates for twelve hours a day, it would consume about 144,000 liters of water, and for fifteen cannons, the total would exceed 2.2 million liters per day. “Guns only bring larger particles down temporarily, while they have no impact on the finer and more hazardous PM2.5 particles. These particles are the most harmful to human health since they can enter the lungs and bloodstream, leading to heart and respiratory diseases,” noted Saeed.

Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF Pakistan, stated that water scarcity posed a greater threat to Lahore than smog. “Emissions from vehicles, poor-quality fuel, and unfiltered industrial discharge are the main causes of air pollution and unless these are addressed, no “anti-smog” campaign can succeed. While smog cannons may provide temporary relief, sustainable improvement in air quality requires fundamental reforms,” said Khan.

Concurring with Khan, Maryam Shah aptly concluded, “Fog cannons offer temporary comfort, but if the government fails to address the root causes of pollution, water scarcity and not smog will kill Lahore.”