WATER SUPPLY ISSUES IN KARACHI – APPRAISAL

AND WAY FORWARD

(SHEHRI SEMINAR, 25 November, 2014)

Dr Noman Ahmed Professor and Chairman

Department of Architecture and Planning NED University, Karachi

OUTLINE 1. Background

2. Appraisal

3. Challenges

4. Way Forward

1. BACKGROUND • Fresh water is a scarce resource – only 3

percent of total volume at the global level. • Fresh water reservoirs and aspirations of

access – a major source of conflict at local and regional levels.

• Pakistan is a water stressed country – around 1000 cubic meters per capita per annum – optimum figure is 5000 cubic meters.

• Urban water supply is a sub-sector in need

of attention – anomalous expansion of population, changing settlement patterns, uneven densification and gaps between supply and demand are few.

2. APPRAISAL Core matters – Karachi can be taken as a case example. • Drinking water has various meanings and

perceptions for different groups –

• Affluent – Premium brands of mineral water.

• Middle Income – Wider range of bottled water, boiled water or filtered water.

• Low Income – Tap water

• Supply – demand gap exists – however it needs review – domestic and other consumption standards based on actual field research across diverse cross sections of the society need to be periodically examined.

• Massive water leakages all across the city –

Aging infrastructure and unprecedented physical development two main reasons.

• Water theft is an organized enterprise – a former Managing Director informed that 35 percent is lost.

• Spread of suction devices has created a

technological distortion in the system of supply – even the legitimate consumers are compelled to use it.

• Retail distribution is not managed according

to any transparent mechanism – area notables and valvemen can tamper with the system in connivance with each other.

• KWSB – the principal utility agency – is an indebted body. It owes more than 57 billion rupees to international donors through the GoP. It was targeted for privatization in 1995-96 for the same reason.

• Tanker operations are no longer an

emergency service – it is a commercial enterprise – it accounts for over 14 percent of supply – it has enormous potential to expand -

• Physical information and up-to-date survey is absent – It causes several problems in respect to accurate estimation and forward planning – scarcity mapping, an effective tool, is not applied in the routines of management.

• Willingness of consumers to pay for the

service has to be established – only nine percent of consumers pay their bills.

• Disconnect between consumers and utility exist – inability to respond to complaints, adhocism in functioning and poorly organized consumer relations are some aspects.

• Human resource in the utility is a chronic issue at all levels – engineers, technicians, valvemen, and administrative cadres all suffer from inadequate manpower.

• Institutional defaulters are a large category. Many bulk consumers in the public and private sector have large bills to settle -

Access to safe drinking water in Pakistan available 60% population

Urban – 85% Rural – 47%

Source: PCSIR, 2007

One questions veracity of these figures after recent floods and overall environmental degradation.

Over 40% deaths in urban areas are caused by drinking contaminated water. Some common ailments include blue baby syndrome among new born babies and infants; skeletal fluorosis; mottled teeth and premature aging. Diseases due to bacterial contents are also common.

Some common examples of drinking water supply

Raw water from rivers

/ lakes / ground water

resources

Filtration process

Aeration / Chlorination

...............

Bulk Syphons

Pumping Stations

Neighbour-hood level

distribution

Underground / overhead

tank of houses

Taps of

Consumers

Advantages: • Dedicated

filtration /

purification

• defined path

of conveyance

Disadvantages: • Uncertainty around home storage, neighbourhood lines, bulk links

......

• Affected by thefts and leakages.

• ‘RoW’ traversed by sewerage lines and other hazardous overlaps

CASE-A

Ground water

sources / tube wells

Filtration / aeration / forms of

purification

Supply through

pumping or gravity flow

Neighbourhood level

distribution

Underground / overhead

tank of house

Taps of

Consumers

Advantages:

• Adequate quantities in situation

of optimum rain / snow fall.

• Defined path of conveyance.

• Dedicated filtration / purification.

Disadvantages:

• Quality may be difficult to maintain due

to aging infrastructure, absence of

periodic cleaning of storage ......

• RoW traversed by sewerage lines and

other hazardous overlaps.

CASE-B

Ground water / any designated or random

water source

Reverse Osmosis Plant for

purification

Ultra violet treatment

(for bacterial content)

Testing

Consumption

Advantages:

• Probably the best quality of

water available.

• Assortment of brand choices.

• Easy availability.

Disadvantages:

• Very high cost.

• Unregulated market – consumers may

be deceived.

• Prone to adulteration and fake

branding.

CASE-C

Bottling Supply to

market

Designated hydrants

Tankers Underground

/ overhead tank

Consumers

Advantages:

• Flexible mode of supply.

• Consumer driven choices and

adjustments.

• Facilitates distant locations

also.

Disadvantages:

• Very expensive.

• Questionable quality,

• Damages road infrastructure.

• Issues in monopoly and conflict with

local administration.

CASE-D

Supply to market

Water obtained through pumps

and transported through carts

Illegal water vending from the source of Metroville

SOME IMAGES

View of Tank no. 13: A young girl filling water

Orangi Town: Area residents moving out to obtain

water from Awami Tanks.

3. CHALLENGES • Status of water supply – essential service or

commercial enterprise. • Management of debt port folio of the utility. • Laissez faire operations of commercial

stakeholders. • Perceptions of consumers pertinent to water

charges – is water a tradable commodity or public good?

• Amorphous institutional structure of the utility.

• Tariff structure and defaulters. • Transforming the utility as an attractive

place of employment for competent professionals and staff.

4. WAY FORWARD • A regulatory body for potable water supply. • Rationalizing the financial structure of the

utility. • Appropriate consumer relations and

awareness to scale up recovery of bills. • A master plan for revitalization of service

based upon scientific planning and management.