Water crisis in Faisalabad — climate change a silent disaster

Tremolo: Engineer Ghulam Shabbir, Dr. Muhammad Sohail Sajid

94 News. Faisalabad, which was once known for its fertile lands, well-organized canal system and abundant water, is now in the grip of severe water crisis. Climate change has affected the water resources of this industrial city to such an extent that clean water is no longer a basic amenity for citizens but a serious and pressing need.

In the last ten years, the underground water level in Faisalabad has gone down to an alarming level. Which water ever 40 From 50 It was available at a depth of 10 feet, now in many areas 150 From 200 It has reached a depth of feet. Unpredictable rains, prolonged heat waves and indiscriminate use of tubewells are exacerbating the situation. Heavy rains, while causing urban flooding, are also causing deadly diseases by adding polluted water to clean water reservoirs.

As Faisalabad is the largest textile and chemical industrial hub of the country, industrial waste is contributing to ground water pollution. According to various research reports, arsenic and heavy metals have been found in the water in several areas of the city, which is leading to an alarming increase in burns, gastrointestinal problems and kidney diseases.

The supply of clean water in the city is largely dependent on Wasa Faisalabad. However, old and dilapidated pipelines, constant leakage and limited facilities keep citizens in constant trouble. In many slums, people are forced to drink contaminated water, resulting in water-borne diseases becoming silent killers.

In this alarming situation, some positive steps have also been taken by Vasa Faisalabad. In recent years, projects have been initiated in various areas of the city to explore new water sources, install deep tube wells, better use of canal water and rainwater harvesting. Along with this, repair of old water supply network, construction of recharge wells and actions against illegal tube wells are also going on to preserve underground water reserves.

However, these measures are still insufficient compared to the current and future threats. There is a need to make rainwater harvesting systems in homes, mosques and educational institutions a part of the law. Strict monitoring of effluent treatment plants in industrial units, implementation of water metering system and heavy fines for wastage of water are the most important needs of the hour.

Water is not only the responsibility of the government or any single organization but is the common asset of every citizen. We have to make it a habit to use water carefully in our homes, report leakages immediately and consider it a national duty to save water for our future generations.

If we are not careful today, our future generations will never forgive us.

Save water — because water is life.