Evaluation of Water Quality and Scarcity Issues for Sustainable Water Management Strategy in Twin Cities of Rawalpindi/ Islamabad, Pakistan.

Year 2024, , 76 - 89, 28.09.2024

Hafiz Muhammad Nadir

https://doi.org/10.30897/ijegeo.1487205

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Today's water world is pebbledashed with two main trepidations of water security/ scarcity, which need in-depth elaboration. Developing countries are particularly facing the impacts of water contamination and scarcity but lack the required impetus and technical infrastructure, thus necessitating swift actions to evaluate the effects of water security/ scarcity on the environment and water resources. In this study, an effort has been made to assess the water security/ scarcity situation in the twin cities of Rawalpindi/ Islamabad, elucidating the water quality/ quantity parameters in the Rawal Lake reservoir in Pakistan by analysing the contamination. The samples were collected/ tested during spring/ monsoon seasons to analyse temporal/fluvial impacts on water discharge. The results were compared with Pakistan's and WHO's drinking water standards before and after the water treatment. Almost all the testing parameters of the raw water samples from the Rawal Lake reservoir feeding streams exceeded the standard limits or fell close to the upper threshold limits, suggesting that this water was unsuitable for drinking without extensive treatment and an efficient distribution system. The contamination, untreated sewage disposal, non-regulated water utilisation, drawdown and supply/ demand gaps are the grave factors causing the water security/ scarcity in the capital/ twin cities of Islamabad/ Rawalpindi. Pakistan has already entered the water scarcity threshold of 1014 m3/ person/ annum in 2018, reduced from water availability of 5260 m3/ person/ annum in 1950 and will likely reach a drought level by 2050 due to increased population and reduced water resources. The study proposes an organisational implementation model for catchment-level river management to ensure good quality of water, construction of 5-10 small dams, and the provision of water from Terbella Dam suggested as the long-term strategy to prevent water scarcity.

Keywords

Water quality, water scarcity, Rawal Lake, water testing, contamination, supply/ demand gap

Ethical Statement

No ethical approval is required.

Supporting Institution

Leeds Beckett University

Project Number

Self funded research

Thanks

Thanks

References

• Ahad, A. (2023). Water Sewage Treatment Plants Approved to treat water. [online] Technology Times. Available at: https://www.technologytimes.pk
• Ahad. K, Mohammad A, Mehboob F, Sattar A, Ahmad I., (2005). Pesticide Residues in Rawal Lake, Islamabad, Pakistan. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 76(3): 463-470.
• Ali, L. (2014). Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants in Pakistan. www.academia.edu.
• APHA, (1985). Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th Edition, American Public Health Association, Washington D. C. (1985).
• Ayaz et al. (2016). Ayaz M., Sharif M., Ayesha B., Nazia T., Salman A., Saeed A., Nazeer A. Saif R. (2016). Determination of Water Quality of Rawal Dam, Islamabad. Academia Journal of Agricultural Research 4(3): 113-117, March 2016 doi.10.15413/ajar.2016.0209 ISSN: 2315-7739
• Bhosale, M. G. M., Salkar, V. D. (2015) Rehabilitation by Chemical Treatment for Sand Media of Rapid Sand Filtration Units for Sangli City.
• Botsou, F., Sungur, A., Kelepertzis, E. Soylak, M. (2016). Insights into the chemical partitioning of trace metals in roadside and off-road agricultural soils along two major highways in Attica's region, Greece. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 132, 101–110. doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv. 2016.05.032.
• Carranzo I.V., (2012). APHA, AWWA, WEF. 'Standard Methods for the examination of water and wastewater.' Anales de hidrología médica, 5(2), 185–186. doi.org/10.5209/rev_anhm.2012. v5.n2.40440.
• Daud, M.K., Nafees, M., Ali, S., Rizwan, M., Bajwa, R.A., Shakoor, M.B., Arshad, M.U., Chatha, S.A.S., Deeba, F., Murad, W., Malook, I. Zhu, S.J. (2017). Drinking Water Quality Status and Contamination in Pakistan. BioMed Research International, 2017, doi:10.1155/ 2017/7908183.
• Docslib. (n.d.). Rawal Lake Water Treatment Plant Rawalpindi, Pakistan. https://docslib.org/
• Donoso, M., Giuliano D.B, Boegh, E., Browning, A.C., Oki, T., C Tindimugaya, Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy, Vrba, J., Zalewski, M. Zubari, W.K. (2012). International Hydrological Programme (IHP) eighth phase: Water security: responses to local, regional and global challenges. Strategic plan, IHP-VIII (2014-2021). Express Tribune Pakistan, (2018). CDA asked to explain pollution in Rawal Lake, 26 Jun. 2018, available at https://leappakistan.com
• Haque I., Cheema. W Ahmed., Ch., (2007). Multifaceted groundwater quality and recharge mechanism issues in a mega-city (Rawalpindi, Pakistan) and mitigation strategies. Proc. 6th International IAHS Groundwater Quality Conference, held in Fremantle, Western Australia, IAHS Publ. no. XXX, 2008. 1-8.
• Jamal S., (2020). Recreational activities at Rawal Lake must be stopped. http://www.dawn.com
• Jimenez-Cisneros, B. (2015). Responding to the challenges of water security: the Eighth Phase of the International Hydrological Programme, 2014–2021. Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, 366, 10–19.
• Kodarkar, M.S., (1992). Methodology for water analysis, physio-chemical, Biological and Microbiological Indian Association of Aquatic Biologists Hyderabad, Pub. 2: 50.
• Kumar, C. P. (2018). Water Security – Challenges and Needs. International Educational Scientific Research Journal. 4. 26-29.
• Mateen, H.A., Garstang, R. (2008). Environmental Monitoring of Natural Streams/Nullahs in Sector F-7, Islamabad: Detailed analytical baseline report of surface water, a research report submitted to the Ministry of Environment's Pakistan Wetlands Programme. 16.
• McBride, M.B., Spiers, G. (2001). Trace Element Content Of Selected Fertilizers And Dairy Manures As Determined By ICP–MS. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 32(1-2), pp.139–156. Doi doi.org/10.1081/css-100102999.
• Mehreen H., Sana H., (2014). Physical, Chemical and Microbiological Analysis of the Water Quality of Rawal Lake, Pakistan ISSN: 2224-0616 Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 4 (1): 28-31, June 2014. Available online at http://www.ijarit.webs.com.
• MES (2022). Water Crisis - A Brief Appraisal by Military Engineering Services Rawalpindi, 2022. Mitra A., Gupta S.K., (1999). Impact of irrigation water quality on human health. Indian Society Soil Sci. J. 47: 99-105.
• Nadir, H. M., Carrvick, J. (2019). Impact of Adjacent Land Use, Infrastructure and Urbanization on Water Quality in a River from Headwater to Downstream. International Journal of Advances in Science Engineering and Technology, 7(3), 16-23.
• Nadir, H. M., Ahmed, A. (2023). The Critical Review of the Performance of the EU Water Framework Directive in Improving the Rivers' Water Quality and the Impediments in its Implementation. Novel Research in Science, 14(4), 1-7. doi:10.31031/NRS.2023.14.000843
• Pakistan Today, (2017). Four sewerage plants are to be built to protect Rawal Lake from pollution.
• Patel K.P., Poll R., (2003), Chemical Properties of Groundwater in Bhiloda. E-J. Chem. 5(4): 792-796.
• PCRWR, (2013). Monitoring Report of Drinking Water Filtration Plants Installed at Rawalpindi by Pakistan Council of Research In Water Resources Ministry of Science & Technology, Islamabad. www.pcrwr.gov.pk
• PEPA (2004). Rawal Lake Catchment Area Monitoring Operation. Islamabad, Pakistan. By Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (2004).
• Pakistan today(2017). Rawal Lake water unfit for human consumption by Pakistan Press Foundation Prajapati J.R., Raol B.V., Poll R (2004). Insect Pest Management Using Plant Resources. J. Entomol. Res. 23(1): 165-168.
• PSQCA, (2004). Pakistan Standards Specification for Bottled Drinking Water, 3rd Revision 9PS:4639-2004. Pakistan Standards Quality Control Authority, Karachi, Pakistan.
• Qureshi.F., (2023). Twin Cities Likely to Face Acute Water Shortage Amid Desilting Process - ProProperty. Read, P., Fernandes, T. (2003). Management of environmental impacts of marine aquaculture in Europe. Aquaculture, 226(1-4), pp.139–163. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/s0044-8486(03)00474-5.
• Saimar P., (2016). Rawal Lake Water Treatment Plant Rawalpindi, Pakistan by NewTAP. Sana J., (2017). Dead Fish in Rawal Lake July 2017 published by Islamabad Scene
• Shahzad A., (2014). Rawal Lake treatment plants: Bureaucratic snags putting residents' health in danger. Sohail, M. T., Mahfooz, Y., Aftab, R., Yat, Y. Talib, M. and Rasool, A. (2019). Water quality and health risk of public drinking water sources: A study of filtration plants installed in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Desalination and water treatment. 181. doi.10.5004/dwt.2020.25119.
• WASA,2022. Rawal Lake Water Quality and Quantity Issues. Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), RDA Pakistan 2022.
• WHO, (2023). World Health Organization South-East Asia | World Health Organization.
• Zhang H.B., Luo Y.M., Zhao Q.G., Wong M.H., Zhang G.L. et al., (2006). Residues of organochlorine pesticides in Hong Kong soils. Chemosphere, 63(4): 633-64.