Islamabad - The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has assured Capital Development Authority of uninterrupted power supply at certain feeders so that the authority could ensure sufficient water supply to the residents of the federal capital during the month of Ramzan, starting second week of June.
Sources in the CDA told The Nation that the authority had sought IESCO’s cooperation so that it could be able to provide sufficient potable water during Ramzan and the latter has responded the request positively. Certain parts of the city, particularly the I-series residential sectors, have been facing acute water shortage since long as the authority has not been able to utilise available resources to the fullest capacity due to interrupted power supply at the feeders supplying electricity to the CDA tube wells installed in the National Park area. “We have got assurance from the IESCO that it would ensure round the clock electricity supply at certain feeders during Ramzan so that the residents face no water shortage in the holy month,” said a senior CDA official on condition of anonymity.
On the other side, he said, the authority has also planned provision of generators at its pumping stations during the month of Ramzan. It would help the water supply directorate overcome water shortage in the month of Ramzan, the official added.
Water shortage complaints at pumping stations located in every sector of the city double with the start of summer season and the Capital Development Authority is unable to cater all the complaints with the available resources and fleet of water tankers.
The Capital Development Authority depends on both surface and groundwater resources.
The designed capacity of the available resources is around 107 million gallons per day. The major source of surface water for the capital is Simly dam.
Groundwater is obtained from tube wells installed in the National Park area.
In wake of continuing shortage of water supply by the authority, the residents have started installing small tube wells in their houses, which has lead to decline in the water table.
According to a study conducted by NESPAK, there is around 33 percent loss of water in the domestic water supply system in Islamabad.
The major loss is associated due to leaky pipelines, breakage and faulty control systems (valves, etc.) and other losses.
Leaky water supply systems are also subjected to contamination especially from the sanitary effluents.