Islamabad Faces Severe Water Shortage as Population Surges
Abdul Samad Tariq
Islamabad: As the population of the federal capital continues to grow unchecked, the city’s natural resources are under significant strain, with water availability becoming the foremost challenge for authorities.
Although the Capital Development Authority (CDA) — the primary provider of civic amenities to residents of Islamabad — is making every effort to address the shortfall in water availability through various measures, the situation calls for a comprehensive approach to achieve a long-term solution.
Over the past 20 years, Islamabad’s population has more than doubled, putting immense pressure on existing water resources, such as the Simly, Rawal, and Khanpur dams. The development of numerous housing societies to meet the growing residential demand from people relocating to the capital from other cities has further exacerbated the situation.
Depleting underground water reserves and the impacts of climate change are additional, looming challenges.
“Although the situation is challenging, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has initiated several measures to address the shortfall,” stated Sardar Khan Zimri, Director General of Water Management at the CDA.
“With population growth and the emergence of new settlements, the increase in water demand is natural, and the authority is fully aware of its responsibilities,” he said. “Therefore, we are exploring more options and have proposed the construction of two new dams, Shahdra and Chiniot, to augment the existing water supply.”
To improve the efficiency of the water system, Zimri explained that the CDA plans to modernise the water distribution network and sewage treatment plants. “These upgrades aim to reduce water losses and enhance the overall effectiveness of the water management system.”
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Zimri further mentioned that the CDA Board has approved pre-feasibility studies for Shahdra and Chiniot Dams to expedite the planning process and has requested WAPDA to conduct a pre-feasibility study for Dotara Dam, a site located 41 km upstream of Khanpur Dam.
“If the civic agency succeeds in constructing a gravity tunnel from Dotara Dam via Shahdra, it could also generate around 10 to 13 megawatts of electricity.”
He also highlighted a project aimed at increasing the water storage capacity of Khanpur Dam, controlling seepage, and preventing the unfair use and theft of water through open channels, which results in a 40 to 50 percent loss of the capital’s water share.
“The CDA has requested WAPDA to conduct a pre-feasibility study, and once the federal capital receives its rightful share of water, the CDA would be able to supply water to at least 10 more sectors,” Zimri said.
“We have also decided to resume work on the unfinished water conduction pipeline from Shah Allah Ditta reservoir to sectors I-11, I-12, I-14, I-15, I-16, etc. Tenders have been invited for three missing portions from Shah Allah Ditta to Sector G-13, with work already starting on one section.
Additionally, the CDA Board has approved amendments to building by-laws to incorporate rooftop rainwater harvesting.”
Moreover, the CDA has installed 94 filtration plants across Islamabad to ensure that residents have access to clean drinking water, in accordance with WHO standards. “The quality of water supplied through these plants is regularly monitored by the CDA Lab and cross-checked by organisations such as the PCRWR, NIH, and Pak-EPA.”
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Zimri also stated that the CDA is undertaking significant long-term projects to secure a more reliable water supply, with one such initiative being the ‘Conduction of Water from Indus River System at Tarbela Dam for Islamabad and Rawalpindi’. This project aims to develop a perennial source of potable water to meet both current and future demands of the twin cities.
The growing population has increased water demand to approximately 120 million gallons per day (MGD), and if this trend continues, the demand will rise further, putting additional pressure on the available water resources.
Similarly, the groundwater table, which was around 10 meters deep in the 1960s, has now dropped to between 60 and 120 meters. Moreover, climate change is affecting water availability by altering precipitation patterns, and with Islamabad experiencing an average annual rainfall of about 1,300 mm, it is insufficient to balance the high demand.
Meanwhile, residents have called for a comprehensive strategy to permanently resolve this issue, as the rising population could lead to difficult times ahead.
“We need timely measures to ensure that our future generations live in a better environment with all the necessary basic facilities,” said a concerned mother, Maria. Ahmed, another resident, emphasised that given the urgency of the situation, the government should take immediate action to address the water issues.
Fatima, a businesswoman who has lived in Islamabad for the past 20 years, remarked that, given the current situation, urgent measures are necessary.
While their concerns are valid, when considering the issue more broadly, water provision and conservation are shared responsibilities of both civic agencies and residents.
The CDA’s ongoing projects and proposed solutions are certainly steps in the right direction, but there is also a critical need for residents to avoid wasting water and to use this resource responsibly.
As there is no mechanism to curb or control population growth, it will become imperative for both civic agencies and residents to develop a parallel strategy to ensure the uninterrupted provision of civic amenities.
The feature was released by APP on August 30, 2024.
