Water metres installation to start in April

LAHORE: The Water and Sanitation Authority (Wasa) would install 0.5 million water metres to overcome losses from water wastage in leakage and to revive the authority’s plummeting revenues.

The Japan Cooperation Agency has donated Rs 1 billion to fund the project which will taken another decade to complete, disclosed a Wasa official to the Express Tribune via phone yesterday.

He stated that the purpose for installing these metres in all commercial and residential areas is to renew water supply, drainage, sewerage, and maintenance and treatment systems. This will not only help overcome the loopholes in our system but will also help rid contaminants from the drinking water, recently declared unfit for usage, he added.

Wasa Deputy Managing director (finance) Asif Javed Qureshi disclosed that initially 7,300 water plants will be installed after the work takes off in first week of May and later on, it will continue in phase depending on the supply of funds and subsequently the equipment.

Wasa Director Planning and Development Zahid Aziz told the Express Tribune that Wasa took up the task in collaboration with the Japanese government after installation and working of water metres in Johar Town with the help of French government in 2005 proved beneficial – bringing clean water wastage down to 10 per cent from 34 per cent.

He further disclosed currently funds were released to purchase 300,000 pipes which will be installed across the city in the next three years however another five year plan to curb wastage will be devised afterwards.

The plan to install these metres will also be extended to tube wells supplying water for agricultural purpose on outskirts of Lahore. So far, metres have been installed with 69 tubewells, he stated. He said these metres disclosed accurate figures of water supply in litres and gallons and are also handy in suspecting faults with water pipes.

Wasa MD Javed Iqbal said installing these metres will help save water for the future and to counter water demand – which on rise subsequent to a rise in the population. He also said that the metre system will ensure proper usage of water and prevent its wastage.

In the past. Wasa has formerly installed 56,848 water meters in different areas including Allama Iqbal Town, Shalimar Town, Aziz Bhatti Town, Ravi Town, Nishter Town and Data Gunj Buksh. However, the systems installed over thirty years ago have rotten over time and hence, the Wasa plans to replace them.