Karachi: Has KWSB suspended use of water purifiers?

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Irfan Aligi

KARACHI: The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) has suspended the water purification process at the Hub water filter plant. This has resulted in impure and contaminated water supply to numerous residential and industrial sectors of North and West districts in the last month.

Sources informed Daily Times that the KWSB had not settled outstanding dues to suppliers of certain chemicals and raw materials used in water purification process, such as alum, lime, acid and chlorine.

Sources also said that the plant could only inhibit macro-particles and substances that cannot pass through the sifter, while only chlorine killed pathogens and micro-organisms like Escherichia coli (E. coli), adding that not treating the water would raise the risk of acquiring waterborne diseases, such as gastroenteritis, typhoid and typhus.

Sources further said that the KWSB added lime to water only on special occasions, especially when foreign delegates arrive to examine the process of producing potable water, adding that using alum, certain acids and chlorine had also been discontinued.

Sources added that the distance between the Hub reservoir and the KWSB water filter plant was around 35 kms, and the open canal through which the water is supplied is often used by picnickers to bathe in, while it was also filled with droppings and carcasses of birds.

Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister Sharmila Farooqui, while expressing concern over untreated water supply, told Daily Times that adding chlorine to water did not need hefty amounts of money, adding that under any circumstances, the 20 million people, who are solely dependent on the KWSB for water, need to be informed about the situation and given necessary guidelines that would help them to take preventive measures, such as boiling water before consumption.

Farooqui also said that it was an act of criminal negligence on the part of the KWSB to skip addition of chlorine to water and exposing the citizens to the risk of gastric ailments that affect especially the infants and people living in underprivileged localities, adding that such epidemics added to the health budget.

An expert on water issues, Taufiq Pasha Mooraj told Daily Times that it was lamentable that the citizens do not receive 100 percent treated water and that an assortment of contamination was always present, adding that the city gets its water supply through various routes, which raises a question if the water was safe and free from contamination.

Mooraj also said that it was the KWSB’s responsibility to ensure supply of safe drinking water to the citizens, adding that the citizens should also play their role in the improvement of water supply system as only 15 percent of them pay their water bills.

Mooraj further said that due to a financial crunch, the KWSB lacked enough funds to pay off its electricity bill, which has made it difficult to spend money on revamping the entire system, adding that even if the citizens started paying off their entire water bills, the KWSB would still need several years to be able to commence such an operation.

Hisaar Foundation (HF) Chairperson Simi Kamal told Daily Times that the HF had frequently gotten water samples tested and, unfortunately, it was revealed that the water was carrying pathogens every time, adding that the KWSB could not be blamed alone because the citizens also need to take measures for the improvement of water lines.

While talking to Daily Times, KWSB Chief Engineer (Bulk) Najam Alam Siddiqui refuted all claims that untreated water was being supplied, adding that the KWSB was regularly adding all the necessary purifiers, including chlorine.

It is relevant to mention here that chlorine is an oxidant chemical and serves to disinfect water. Its efficacy to kill pathogens like E. coli is manifold, especially when added to water.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg12_1