In conversation with Sardar Khan Zimri

CDA to conserve water to counter droughts

Islamabad: Islamabad has a population of approximately three million people. During rainy seasons, it faces the threat of urban flooding, and afterward, residents must prepare for a water shortage.

Bol News spoke with Sardar Khan Zimri, deputy director general for water management at the Capital Development Authority (CDA), about this issue. Hailing from Balochistan, Zimri is a suitable choice for dealing with water-related issues in the Federal capital.

Q. What are the main issues in this area with regard to water?

Islamabad is a rain-fed area. The city currently receives water from Simli Dam, Khanpur Dam, a small amount from Rawal Dam, and small storage facilities in Shahdra and elsewhere. Urban areas require 120 million gallons of water per day. When we factor in the need for rural areas, the total comes to 200 million gallons. To avoid a crisis, the CDA could obtain 70 to 80 million gallons from established reservoirs, which we could legally distribute in the city. However, as mentioned in your USEFP-PUAN project titled “Urban Flooding and Droughts in Islamabad: Advocacy for Solutions Scattered Around Us,” solutions exist.

Q. Is it not possible, to meet the needs of the city through rainwater harvesting?

As a result of climate change, rainfall intensity is increasing while total volume is decreasing. It has made water conservation more important than ever before. The CDA and the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) have been working together to conserve rainwater in line with global best practices. So far, we have constructed over 60 rechargeable water wells, and they are currently at work. On rainy days, the water table in the areas around these wells rises up to 8–10 feet before returning to normal. In the long run, this project will solve Islamabad’s water problems.

Q. How do the rechargeable wells function?

This is a straightforward concept. It works quite opposite to the tube wells. Tube wells extract water from the ground, whereas rechargeable wells return water to the ground.

We begin by locating the land through which water could flow. To locate the land, we conduct soil tests to determine the nature of the land, particularly the rocks beneath the surface. Then we dig a small hole and fill it with a large amount of water. If the water sinks, we install a rechargeable well. Water in the rechargeable well is purified by passing it through sand, gravel, and other materials before being discharged into the ground. We make certain that rainwater from the surrounding area easily reaches the wells.

Q. What are the locations of these wells, and how much do they cost?

At the moment, these wells are in green areas. This type of a well costs between Rs 800,000 and Rs 1 million. These wells cannot be dug in certain areas. In addition, the water flow in these wells is occasionally obstructed. They are, however, the best solution the city could have.

I’ve proposed that these wells be required in all Islamabad homes so that rainwater from rooftops can fall into them. The proposal is being considered for inclusion in the city’s building bylaws. Some have combined these wells with their water pumps. This, however, is not advised. Rooftops typically account for 40 per cent of a residential sector. There is a need to use our buildings to conserve rainwater.

Q. The CDA-established residential sectors are now dwarfed by housing societies. The tanker mafia thrives in these societies, and citizens are duped into paying for water. What is the solution for them?

The CDA ensures that a housing society can provide water to its residents. We do not grant permission or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to any housing society unless we have this capacity. To avoid this problem, we do not permit the construction of tube wells in areas near the Islamabad boundary. Even so, some housing societies disregard the mandatory service delivery, and they are prosecuted by the CDA.

Citizens should exercise caution when purchasing plots. They should investigate whether the housing society where they are considering purchasing a plot has a water supply. The primary requirement is water. You can put off building large roads, but you can’t ignore the availability of water.

Q. The tanker mafia is also prevalent in Sectors I and G, which house the bulk of Islamabad’s population. What is the solution for them?

Water is now delivered to these sectors once every 24 hours. Previously, it happened every 36 hours. In addition, we repaired leakages in the water lines. As a result, the pressure and timing of water supply have increased, while the number of requests for water tanks has significantly decreased. However, if a house is rented to three or more families, it stands to reason that its tank will be insufficient to meet their needs. Residents of such densely populated houses frequently request water tankers due to water shortages.

Q. How do you feel about the coming summer for Islamabad?

I feel that it will be better than before. In the winter, we are not using the maximum amount of available water. The water we save now will be utilised later in the summer. Furthermore, the number of rechargeable wells is growing. It will significantly contribute to raising the water table. We can solve our water problems by strictly enforcing existing water conservation laws.

The author, an ICFJ fellow, teaches mediatization at the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI).