LAHORE - The old and rusty water supply pipelines of Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) are posing serious threats to the health of citizens, TheNation learnt Saturday.
These pipelines need to be replaced immediately because any delay might result in severe health issues among the public. Despite the fact that government has allocated a huge amount of Rs1.5 billion, Wasa has so far failed to complete the project.
Among the samples taken by PCSIR from various localities of Lahore, water in 84 percent areas is impure and unfit for human consumption. The PCSIR, in its report, said the sample tests showed a high rate of bacteria, fluoride and arsenic besides colour change.
The PCSIR also concluded that women and children were worst sufferers of diarrhoea, cholera, jaundice and hepatitis B and C, caused by contaminated water.
Water samples taken from different commercial and residential vicinities of the city including Sandha Kalan, Wahdat Colony, Badami Bagh, Bund Road, Muslim Town, Allama Iqbal Town, Sabzazar Colony, Sherankot, Multan Road, Bhati Gate, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Baghbanpura, McLeod Road, Royal Park, Rewaz Garden, Kot Lakhpat, Madina Town, Ismail Nagar, Shadbagh, Shafiqabad, Ravi Road, Ravi Colony, Shahdara, Model Town, Rasool Park, Thokar Niaz Baig, Liaqatabad, Green Town, Chungi Amar Sadhu, Bakar Mandi and Empress Road was found contaminated and harmful to human health.
An official of Lahore Development Authority (LDA), seeking anonymity said that most of the LDA housing schemes were developed on the sites, filled with solid waste and garbage. He added the underground rusty pipelines of those schemes, laid for drinking water supply, were also contributing fatal diseases among the residents.
On the other hand, a study conducted by medical students last year revealed that a large number of infectious diseases were transmitted primarily through the water supplies contaminated with human and animal excreta. The study was undertaken for the microbiological testing of bottled water used for drinking purposes by the public in Lahore.
The report declared that 24 samples were collected at investigator’s convenience, while the microbiological testing was performed using the membrane filter technique. Of the 24 samples tested, included in the research were of the following brands: Masafi, Wimbleoon, Sufi, Springley, Blu, Aqua Safe, Natural, Aqua Pure, Aquafina, Pharmagen, Nation, Pure Life, Splash, Kinley, Gourmet, Klinz, Himalaya, IWT, Volvic, Aqua One, Classic, MUM, Premeik, and Aqua, while two (8.3pc) were found to be contaminated with bacteria found in human or animal excreta.
Although only 8.3pc samples were found to be unsafe, this emphasises that all bottled waters should not be taken for granted to be safe for consumption and may need to undergo additional processing by the consumers, the report said.
One in seven people do not have access to safe drinking water, the report further reveals, adding that safe and wholesome water has been defined as “water that is free from pathogenic agents, free from harmful chemical substances, pleasant to taste and smell”.
In developing countries, such as Pakistan, 60pc of the population has no access to pure drinking water. 88pc of the functional water supply schemes in Pakistan provide water that is unsafe for drinking because of microbiological contamination.
The study further revealed that outbreaks of water borne diseases occur throughout the world but are especially common in developing countries.
The human pathogens, that pose serious risk of diseases if present in the drinking water, include Salmonella species, Shigella species, Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter species and viruses such as Hepatitis A virus, Hepatitis E virus, Rota virus and parasites like Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and others. The study was carried out to determine the current status of bacteriological quality of bottled water available in Lahore city and whether it meets the required standards.
When contacted for comments, Wasa Deputy Managing Director (Operations) Asghar Ali Bhali said about 25 to 30 percent water supply pipelines in areas of the city were identified rusty as per the report of a survey conducted by Wasa last year.
He informed this reporter that Wasa has started working for replacing and repairing the rusty pipelines released after government released about Rs 30 million for the repairing and replacement of the rusty water supply pipelines in the current financial year while the remaining amount would be released in different phases in the next financial years.
Earlier, he said, a gastro package-II project worth Rs1.5b had been prepared by the agency for replacement of rusting pipelines and sent to the Planning and Development Department for approval of funds last year.
He further said that mostly problems of rusting pipelines were identified in the Walled City and other old residential areas where the pipelines are very old and deep and replacement of these old and pipelines is the topmost priority of the agency.