Ensuring hygiene : Water tanks’ cleaning under way

WASA official says process to ensure destruction of dengue larva.

RAWALPINDI: The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has started the cleaning of water tanks in the garrison city.

Wasa Rawalpindi Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood said there are 36 overhead and five underground water tanks that supply drinking water to residents, adding that the agency has started the annual process of cleaning water tanks which will be completed within two weeks.



The main purpose of the cleaning is to maintain quality of water, he informed. The disinfection of these tanks has also been started with the whole process being conducted under the supervision of a qualified water quality manager, revealed Mehmood.

He explained that in addition, Wasa has also started cleaning of mini-filtration plants and stopping leakages from tube-wells which will be useful in stemming the spread of dengue in the city.

Talking about the general misconception that dengue larva grows in sewerage water, he said clean water is the primary breeding ground of the dengue mosquito.

He stated that Wasa had already completed the cleaning process of sewerage pipelines before the onset of monsoon and is constantly working to mitigate the spread of the disease in the city.

The agency’s spokesperson, Muhammad Umar Farooq, told The Express Tribune that Wasa annually conducted this activity with the help of experts.

“We have given the responsibility of the cleanliness process to a private contractor this year too”, he said, adding that they also try to evaluate the physical condition of water tanks so they may be repaired in case of any damage. This process is necessary to remove fungus and maintaining the quality of water, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2014.