WASTEWATER PROBLEM AND ITS COMPLICATIONS FOR “KARACHI”
By Rashid Ali Panhwer
ABSTRACT:
Owing to its ever-expanding population Karachi is confronted with increasing contaminated water dilemma. According to KW and SB’s 2007 estimates Karachi produces almost 446 MGD sewage (waste water), while provincial government estimates it at 456 MGD in 2009. Shipping industry is also responsible for coastal water pollution. Karachi gets about 78% drinking water from Keenjher Lake and 20-25% potable water from Hub Dam. Fresh water supply to Karachi from Haleji Lake is a forgone history. Water from both these sources has been found contaminated. Contamination of fresh water resources on accelerated rate is also divulging the problem of fresh water scarcity in Karachi. Per capita water availability in Pakistan has been decreasing at alarming rate. The net supply of water after 35% losses is 414 MGD and the shortfall after losses remais 223 MGD. Pollution is contaminating City’s fresh water resources and Coastal belt, which ultimately threatens water availability and food security for future as well as health hazards and economic losses through drinking water and food chain. This paper explores various aspects of the situation.
The problem of Water pollution is posing a grave challenges to Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh province. Owing to its ever-expanding population the megapolis of Pakistan is confronted with increasing contaminated water dilemma. The city is spread over 3,530 km². Population of Karachi was about 0.4 million (400,000) in 1947, which has expanded to an estimated 17 to 19 million in 2009. An estimated 45,000 migrant workers enter the city every month from different parts of Pakistan. The city’s population is increasing by around 5 percent per annum, about 2 per cent increase in local population and 3 per cent owing to urbanization. The World Bank Report 2006 states that an estimated 35 percent of Pakistan’s population is living in cities and Pakistan is the most urbanized country in South Asia. Some estimates place Karachi’s population at 38 million by the year 2025. This phenomenon has exposed the City to various environmental pressures besides other problems.
Growing population happens to supplement environmental pollution. Water contamination is one of its components that affect human life immensely. Karachi gets about 78% drinking water from Keenjher Lake and 20-25% potable water from Hub Dam. Fresh water supply to Karachi from Haleji Lake is a forgone history. Water from both these sources has been found contaminated. A small quantity of water is received from desalination plant. A study conducted by the department of Geology, University of Karachi, found that none of 2000 samples of water collected from different parts of the city over 20 years has proved fit for human consumption.
Wastewater problem in Karachi is very critical. City’s sewage collection and treatment capability is limited. According to KW and SB’s 2007 estimates Karachi produces almost 446 MGD sewage (waste water), while provincial government estimates it at 456 MGD in 2009. Currently, there are three Sewage Treatment Plants at Karachi, which include TP-I SITE, TP-II Mehmoodabad, and TP-III Mauripur with a collective maximum design capacity of 151 MGD. Where effluents are treated from bout 90 MGD of total sewage while 356 MGD wastewater remains untreated. Out of which, about 196 MGD drains into Lyari river and 98 MGD waste water finds its way into Malir river, which ultimately discharges into sea, whereas 22 MGD percolates into ground and becomes part of ground water. Still, 139 MGD sewage water remains unaccounted. Such huge amount of waste water mixing with fresh water bodies introduces blue-green algae and other harmful organisms, leading to deoxygenating (eutrophication) that disables self purification process of water and it becomes highly contaminated and unsafe.
As per record of Sindh Assembly session on Friday, April 17, 2009, Karachi houses seven major industrial estates in Korangi, Landhi, Federal B Area, North Karachi, SITE Karachi, SITE Superhighway and Port Qasim. The industrial effluent from the first six industrial estates is released at various points in Malir and the Lyari Rivers. From the Port Qasim Industrial Zone, the effluent is released in the creek area. At present some industrial effluent is being treated in the treatment plant while a large quantity of it is being discharged directly into the sea.
According to a report the percentage of urban dwellers in Sindh with piped water on plot increased from 68% in 1990 to an estimated 80% in 2001. Whilst sanitation services provided to planned areas in Karachi were estimated at 85%, services to Katchi Abadis were reported to cover only 12% of the population. It is important to note that an estimated 40% of Karachi’s population lives in about 539 informal settlements, or “Kachi Abadis”.
Studies show that untreated sewage water washing excreta and disease organisms pour into freshwater sources. Similarly, toxic substances from agricultural chemicals and industrial wastes leach or drain into fresh water supplies that then become a source of waterborne diseases and may also cause cancer, neurological diseases and low sperm counts. As the coverage of water supplied through pipelines remains short, thus scores of the citizens are compelled to resort to other sources for drinking water, which are usually depleted. At many points leakages in pipes cause wastewater to mix with drinking water and the population supplied through those pipelines also become exposed to water borne diseases. Karachi has low levels of average precipitation almost 250 mm per annum and the ground water recharge of the city is chiefly from sewage.
According to government estimates Pakistan fisheries industry is worth $ 1.2 billion a year. Karachi fish harbor handles about 90% of the fish and seafood catch in Pakistan and 95% of fish and seafood exports from Pakistan. Shipping industry is also responsible for coastal water pollution. Besides municipal and agro-industrial effluent, an estimated 90,000 tons per year of oily discharges are pumped out within port limits and there is no waste reception or treatment facility within the port. The accumulation of eight heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the fauna of coastal waters of Karachi is especially in higher concentration around polluted localities. Some of marine life is polluted with lead, if consumed by human beings cause anemia, kidney failure and brain damage. Oil spills; industrial – municipal wastewaters and solid waste are all blamed for deterioration of coastal environment, exhaustion of coastal resources, loss of biodiversity and public health risks causing heavy economic and environmental losses.
Contaminated water is responsible for over 12 million deaths every year world over. An estimated 3 billion people lack a sanitary toilet and 4 billion cases of diarrheal diseases occur, world over every year, causing 3 to 4 million deaths, mostly among children. The World Health Organization estimates that environmental health hazards account for over 20 percent of the overall burden o f diseases worldwide. More than 40% hospital beds in Pakistan are occupied by patients with water related diseases. According to Economic Survey of Pakistan 2008-09 economic losses to the country due to water pollution are estimated at Rs.109.5 billion while National Drinking Water Policy Document 2009 mentions the same at about Rs.112 billion per year, over Rs.300 million a day, in terms of health costs and lost earnings.
Common water-borne diseases include diarrhea, cholera, hepatitis A and E, typhoid, meningitis, shigella and polio. World Bank report 2006 estimates, in Pakistan, more than 1.6 million DALYs3 are lost annually as a result of death and disease due to diarrhea, and almost 900,000 as a result of typhoid. World Water Forum suggests water pollution causes 60 percent of infant mortality in Pakistan and is now one of the leading causes of death in the country.
The poor are exposed t o greater environmental health risks because o f the surroundings in which they live, the lack o f basic services and their greater vulnerability due to malnutrition and inadequate health care. A UNDP report titled High Food Prices in Pakistan – Impact Assessment and the Way Forward said the field assessment suggested that the number of households that could not afford to obtain medical assistance when sick had increased from six percent to 30 percent. In Karachi, for instance, a study found that poor people living in areas without any sanitation or hygiene education spent six times more on medical care than people who lived in areas with access to sanitation and who had a basic knowledge of household hygiene.
Contamination of fresh water resources on accelerated rate is also divulging the problem of fresh water scarcity in Karachi. Availability of fresh water is necessary not only for preventing health hazards but also for immediate survival of people. There is far less quantity of water on earth now than there was 2,000 years ago, when the population was less than 2.5% of its current size. Over 1.2 billion people lack access to safe freshwater and the prevalent situation sets them at open risk. By the year 2025, it is anticipated that 48 countries are likely to face water shortages, affecting more than 2.8 billion people or approximately 35% of the world’s projected population. Per capita water availability in Pakistan has been decreasing at alarming rate. In 1951, the per capita availability was 5300 cubic meters, which has now shrunk to 1105 cubic meter, causing 1000 cubic meter water scarcity.
According to KS&WB data water demand and supply in 2007 were 682 and 637 MGD respectively. The net supply of water after 35% losses was 414 MGD and the shortfall after losses remained 223 MGD. If the water supply capacity is not expanded, the projected shortfall stands at 320 MGD in 2010, 503 MGD in 2015, 615 MGD in 2020 and 749 MGD in 2025 against the demand of 734, 917, 1029 and 1163 in respective years.
Pollution is contaminating City’s fresh water resources and Coastal belt, which ultimately threatens water availability and food security for future as well as health hazards through drinking water and food chain. This scenario incorporates serious repercussions for Karachi’s population. The situation will certainly aggravate in future if timely steps were not taken to cope with it. Governmental steps to tackle the situation are appreciable but much more needs to be done. In order to prevent health risks and social, economic and environmental losses from water pollution we have to remain watchful about the situation. It is necessary to enlarge water supply, sewage collection & treatment capacity of the city and to materialize full coverage of water supply and sanitation to the deprived population with proper maintenance of pipelines. There is a dire need to contain population of Karachi with minimum growth rate through preventive checks. Programs for public awareness are necessary so that people may redirect the prevalent attitude of indifference to realizing their responsibilities against environmental pollution.
Chronic problems cannot be solved through haphazard and offhand solutions and need alternative ways out besides proper planning and strict implementation on relevant laws including those for maintaining marine environment. It requires a comprehensive framework and collective efforts from both the government and private sector and citizens to ensure a prosperous and water secure future for the megapolis.
REFERENCES:
1) Economic Survey of Pakistan 2008-09
2) Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB), Report 2007
3) Population Reports Volume XXVI, Number 1, September, 1998
4) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE COMPLETION REPORT
TA4432-PAK: Capacity Building for Environmental Management in Sindh
Division: CWSS
5) Sindh Assembly Session, Environmental Hazard: ‘City’s industries discharging untreated effluent into sea’ Friday, April 17, 2009
6) Daily Dawn August 04, 2006 Friday, KARACHI: Cases of waterborne diseases on the rise By Mukhtar Alam
7) The News, Wednesday April 01, 2009 news item by Aroosa Mansoor
8) The News, Friday May 12, 2009, news item
9) EPA brief on environmental problems of the marine and coastal areas: http://www.environment.gov.pk/PRO_PDF/…/Marine%20pollution.pdf
10) Wikipedia
Very well written – Good job where are you from Rashid?
nice work
excellent work