THE NEXT WAR IS WATER WAR

University Degree Business and Administrative studies

Water Shortage – the next war is water war

A popular myth, which is often expressed today, is that "the next great war will be a water war".

Water is not evenly divided around the world. Some places have lots and others have very little. Water supply is a big problem in some countries. Like the air we breathe, "it" is something that we often take for granted. Once assumed unlimited in supply, now even developed nations are realizing its limits. It is the most precious of all resources, an essential component of almost every human activity, and vital to the health of all ecosystems. It is also what we human beings are made of - Water! And it is running out.

This is in response to the growing pressure on natural resources, which is being experienced throughout the world in the context of increasing demand. With the very high numbers of international watercourses that are shared between countries, water and its use is undoubtedly a cause of tension and often strains relations between countries. Water remains a security concern for many countries, it has been used as a weapon in conflicts and water systems have often been targets within conflicts, which have nothing directly to do with water. More than a dozen nations receive most of their water from rivers that cross borders of neighboring countries viewed as hostile. These include Botswana, Bulgaria, Cambodia, the Congo, Gambia, the Sudan, and Syria, all of whom receive 75 percent or more of their fresh water from the river flow of often hostile upstream neighbors.

In the Middle East, a region marked by hostility between nations, obtaining adequate water supplies is a high political priority. For example, water has been a contentious issue in recent negotiations between Israel and Syria. In recent years, Iraq, Syria and Turkey have exchanged verbal threats over their use of shared rivers. (It should come as no surprise to learn that the words "river" and "rival" share the same Latin root; a rival is "someone who shares the same stream".

Life evolved from water and unless we heed the dire warning signs soon lives will be lost in the living nightmare of fighting for water. The reason is because by 2015 about half the world’s population will live in countries that are “water-stressed”. Those countries will have 1,700 cubic meters of water per person and countries that have a water shortage will have less than 1000 cubic meters per person.

In the year 2015 about half of the world’s population will live in countries that are “water stressed”.

In the developing world, 80 percent of water usage goes into agriculture, a proportion that is not sustainable; and in 2015 a number of developing countries will be unable to maintain their levels of irrigated agriculture. Over pumping of groundwater in many of the worlds important grain-growing regions will be an increasing problem; about 1,000 tons of water is needed to produce a ton of grain. That is a huge usage of water to produce just a ton of grain.

Global Warming at a Glance

Global mean surface temperatures 1856 to 2005

Global warming is a term used to describe the trend of increases in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans that has been observed in recent decades. The scientific opinion on climate change, as expressed in the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third Assessment Report in 2001 and explicitly endorsed by the national science academies of the G8 nations in 2005, is that:

The average global temperature has raised 0.6 ± 0.2 °C since the late 19th century, and that it is likely that "most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities”.

The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing and agriculture, and other human activities, are the primary sources of the human-induced component of warming. Observational sensitivity studies and climate models predict that global temperatures may increase by 1.4 to 5.8 °C between 1990 and 2100.

Such changes may increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, heat waves, and hurricanes, change agricultural yields, cause glacier retreat, reduced summer streamflows, or contribute to biological extinctions..

Potential Negative Effects

The predicted effects of global warming are many and various, both for the environment and for human life.

These effects include sea level rise, impacts on agriculture, reductions in the ozone layer, increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, and the spread of disease. In some cases, the effects may already be being experienced, although it is impossible to attribute specific natural phenomena to long-term global warming. In particular the relationship between global warming and hurricanes is still being debated.

Global warming is already causing death and disease across the world through flooding, environmental destruction, heatwaves and other extreme weather events, according to some scientists.

A prime cause of the global water concern is the ever-increasing world population. As populations grow, industrial, agricultural and individual water demands escalate. According to the World Bank, world-wide demand for water is doubling every 21 years, more in some regions. Water supply cannot remotely keep pace with demand, as populations soar and cities explode. Population growth alone does not account for increased water demand. Since 1900, there has been a six-fold increase in water use for only a two-fold increase in population size. This reflects greater water usage associated with rising standards of living (e.g., diets containing less grain and more meat). It also reflects potentially unsustainable levels of irrigated agriculture.

An Overview

The world faces crisis of unprecedented level because of the failure of world leaders to take action on population growth, pollution and expected climate changes. According to a UNESCO report,

"No region will be spared from the impact of this crisis which touches every facet of life, from the health of children to the ability of nations to secure food for their citizens".

Improvement of water services in the developing world over the past two decades have largely been cancelled out by population growth and many parts of the world face continued water scarcity that has been increased by climate change, pollution and over consumption.

Worldwide supplies of water are falling while the demand is growing at an unsustainable rate. This situation shows that over the next 20 years, the average supply of water worldwide per person is expected to drop by a third. Presently, many countries and territories of the world are already in a state of crises.

From 1997 to 2002 Pakistan faced a severe shortage of water due to a cycle of drought and reduced storage capacity of the two reservoirs.

Pakistan is not alone in going through the experience of water shortage; there are many other countries in similar situation.

According to a UN report, by the middle of this century, at worst seven billion people in 60 countries will be faced with water scarcity, at best two billion in 48 countries, depending on factors like population growth and policy making. Climate change will account for an estimated 20 per cent of this increase in global water scarcity.

It is been predicted that humid areas will probably see more rain, while it is expected to decrease and become more erratic in many drought-prone regions and even in some tropical and sub-tropical regions. Water quality will worsen due to rising population level and water temperature.

According to a report, the future of many parts of the world looks bleak. Per capita water supplies will reduce by a third, even though birth rates are slowing down, the world's population should still reach about 9.3 billion by 2050, compared to 6.3 billion in 2005. This world-wide water crisis and increased water pollution is due to about two million tones of waste being dumped every day into rivers, lakes and streams.

One liter of wastewater pollutes about eight liter of fresh water.

The following statistics are indeed real, and startling:

Nearly 450 million people in 29 countries currently face severe water shortages.
20 percent more water than is now available will be needed to feed the additional three billion people who will be alive by 2025.
As much as two-thirds of the world population could be water-stressed by 2025.
Aquifers, which supply one-third of the world's population, are being pumped out faster than nature can replenish them.
Half the world's rivers and lakes are seriously polluted.
Major rivers, such as the Yangtze, Ganges, and Colorado, do not flow to the sea for much of the year because of upstream withdrawals.

Water is unevenly distributed across the populated regions of the world. It is an irony of geography that two-thirds of the world's population lives in areas that receive only one-quarter of the world's annual rainfall. By contrast the most water-rich areas of the world, such as the Amazon and Congo River Basins, are sparsely populated. Some of the most densely populated regions of the world, such as the Mediterranean, the Middle East, India, and China will face severe water shortages in the coming decades.

According to the UN report, there is estimated 12,000 km3 of polluted water worldwide, which is ...

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According to the UN report, there is estimated 12,000 km3 of polluted water worldwide, which is more than the total amount contained in the world's ten largest river basins at any given moment. Therefore, if pollution keeps pace with population growth, the world will effectively lose 18,000 km3 of fresh water by 2050. This quantity of water is more than nine times the total amount countries currently use each year for irrigation, which is by far the largest consumer of this resource. Irrigation currently accounts for 70 per cent of all water withdrawals worldwide.

PAKISTAN AND WATER

Obviously, Pakistan is also the part of the world and unfortunately an underdeveloped country, facing the same problems of water shortage, as the world is facing including developed countries. Developed and underdeveloped countries excluding Pakistan are continuously implementing their short term and long term water development policies to overcome these crises. But unfortunately, during the last 50 years we had built only two big reservoirs.

Pakistan is already in the midst of a serious drought leading to an acute shortage of water. The four provinces are engaged in a war of words over water allocation quotas.

Pakistan is blessed with plenty of natural resources with water as the most imperative one as it has always played a vital role in the economic development of Pakistan and is likely to continue as such in the future. Pakistan is also faced with the overwhelming issues of scarcity of water and generation of effluents. In Pakistan the availability of water is slightly over 1050 cubic meters per capita per year which is just marginally above the 1000 cubic meters per capita per year requirement to be treated as water stressed and water scarce country. Though at present, Pakistan may not be categorized as a water scarce country there are seasons during the year when the water availability is much lower than the average.

However, rapid population growth (2.6% per annum), increased urbanization and industrialization, mismanagement in development and use of water resources for various purposes as well as extended drought has resulted in water scarcity.

The water shortage and increasing competition for multiple uses of water adversely affected the quality of water.

Therefore, the water quality of both surface and groundwater has been identified as one of the water resource issues in Pakistan as the access to clean domestic water in the urban and rural sub-sectors is low in terms of quantity as well as quality. In addition poor access of citizens to safe drinking water is one of the major reasons for unbridled rise in poverty due to the high cost of illnesses and loss of working days occurring due to water-born diseases. .

Most of the people around the world, including Pakistan, are now buying their drinking water.

Others are condemned to drink the contaminated water oozing out of the taps. They still consider themselves privileged as most do not have this facility of running tap water.

Existing population of Pakistan is around 140 million and it is expected to rise to 208 million by 2025. This growth in population will significantly increase the demand for food and fibre while both land and water resources are declining day by day. Pakistan's food import bill is rising on account of population and output is declining as a result of reduced availability of water. The situation of the Indus and other rivers and our dams and reservoirs is deteriorating and their total storage capacity would reduce by an equivalent to Mangla dam. The most significant element in this worsening trend is the relatively poor focus on both water management and development of additional storage capacity.

People don’t relate the increase in population to its effect on water availability. If u continues to pollute this water, it will be less available for human consumption, food production and other uses.

IRRIGATION AND AGRICULTURE:

Pakistan has the largest contiguous irrigation system in the world; hailed as an engineering miracle. This system is, however, in a dangerous state of neglect and disrepair.

Operation, maintenance, and replacement of water infrastructure continue to be a costly business. According to a recent World Bank report, “Pakistan’s Water Economy Running Dry,” Pakistani taxpayers- not users – are paying most of the operation and maintenance costs and no one is paying for replacement. Largely taxpayers also fund excessive manpower, employed supposedly for maintenance.

The demand for more water is emanating from our landed classes, most of who are represented in the National Assemblies.

In spite of reforms, very powerful people continue to own very big farms that are worked by landed people. Where sharecropping arrangements have been perpetuated, there isn’t much impetus to change, because the system suits the landowners. Therefore, we have a situation where instead of improving farming methods to conserve water and increase productivity per unit of water, these landowners demand more water to maintain some of the lowest productivity rates in the world.

THE LAND OF SINDH

Sindh is the third largest province of Pakistan and it covers an area of 140,935 Sq. Km. or 18 percent of the country’s geographical area. Its population is 32 million, representing 23 percent of the total population of the country. About 40 percent of the area of Sindh is arable land and 5 percent is rangeland.

WATER SCENARIO

Water is generally available in many parts of the deserts at a depth of 30 to 150 meters. The water table depth is falling by 0.5 to 1.0 meter annually in sindh and has been affected further due to failure of rains in the last few years, resulting in poor water recharge.

Rainfall in the monsoon months is the main source of water to support crop growth, rangeland, livestock and human population. Groundwater is limited and the failure of rains aggravated the situation further.

The irrigation system built in the Sindh Province some 70 years ago is not in good shape, a fact that has enormous environmental and livelihood implications for the people in rural areas.

It is reported that less than one third of the canal withdrawals actually reaches the crop zone and that most of the water is lost due to mixing with the saline ground water. This waste of irrigation water is causing land degradation in adjacent canal and head command.

DEBATE ON DAMS

The whole issue has been so politicized that you have to be either for or against the Kalabagh Dam.

When we talk of water problems, there are certain ways of dealing with water that we never seem to think about:.

*Why are we afraid of using the same water many times for different?

*Why aren’t we thinking of cleaning our water before putting it back into the system and using it again?

There is technology available to do so. Once we take care of these issues the debate will not only be about being for or against one or two dams.

If the objective is to meet the future water requirement in a way that promotes the food security and needs of a growing population then, strictly speaking, one or two particular dams are not the only or even the best solution.

Proponents argue the need for dams on four main points:

*More water for irrigation and agriculture

*More storage capacity

*More flood control and

*More hydroelectric power

Let us look at each one of the arguments more closely:

FLOOD CONTROL

In terms of flood control – another favourite argument of pro-dam proponents, it needs to be pointed out that much of the flooding occurs because levees upstream from barrages are breached to protect the barrages. It would make more sense to improve the strength and upgrade the barrages as a means of flood control and mitigation.

HYDROEEELECTRIC POWER

One of the well-known disadvantages of big dams is that they accentuate flood peaks. Hydroelectric power would be the major benefit of Kalabagh and Bhasha but, interestingly, this is not the main argument put forth. A run-of-the-river type dam where water is used to generate electricity and then allowed to run in the existing channels would be far more acceptable to the three smaller provinces, as there would be no diversion. Even in this scenario there are other ways and other locations where hydroelectric power could be generated without mega dams.

CONTIGUOUS IRRIGATIONS SYSTEM IN THE WORLD

We, as a nation, tend to build, neglect and throw away, only to build again. There is no concept of maintenance.

Pakistan has the largest contiguous irrigations system in the world.

It is supposed to be a miracle of engineering that has helped increase our food production. But we don’t maintain it. . Operation, maintenance, and replacement cost a lot of money. Where is that money coming from? Some of the data in the recent World Bank report "Pakistan’s water economy running dry," is quite frightening.

When comparing Pakistan with Australia, the report shows that in Australia, the entire cost of efficient operation, maintenance and replacement is paid by the actual users, whereas taxpayers pay the interest on any loans that may have been accrued in putting that water system into place. In Pakistan, taxpayers – not users – are paying most of the operation and maintenance costs; no one is paying for replacement. Largely taxpayers also fund excessive manpower, employed supposedly for maintenance. Is this really sustainable? When we can’t even look after our existing infrastructure, is there even a case for building new infrastructure?

Pakistan is already a water- scarce country and we have little additional water to mobilize.

The World Bank report has some very alarming data, but then it makes an existential leap and calls for more infrastructure, whereas the arguments presented in the report do not lend support to that. Pakistan is already a water-scarce country, we have large tracts of land that are being rendered uncultivable due to water logging and salinity, and which are direct results of our irrigation methods. We have little additional water to mobilize. We’ve already used up everything that exists in our water cycle so when we say we’re putting up another dam or reservoir, it doesn’t necessarily mean there will be additional water coming in, we are just re-appropriating what’s already in the system.

*Who’s going to pay for the additional investment?

*We’ve taken so many loans to be returned over a long-term period, how much more can we sustain?

Our water resource base is severely degraded because of pollution and atrophying and overuse groundwater is being over-exploited. Flooding and drainage problems are also going to get worse, partly because of climate change but also because of the way we manage our water system.

The water infrastructure is in terrible disrepair – everything is broken, there are leakages, powerful people create their own direct links.

We have poor governance, low levels of trust, water productivity is extremely low, what we produce per acre, regardless of the crop, is still less than what others are producing. In 2000, when there was a major drought in the country, Pakistan produced a record wheat crop of 22 million tons. Obviously we have been over-watering, and these crops probably need a lot less water than we are putting into them. In terms of productivity in farms between the head, middle and tails of canal irrigation systems you would expect that the farms at the head part of the system, which get more water, would have higher productivity. But, in fact, those in the middle have the highest productivity.

So we have to do more solid research on this. I fail to understand the demands for more water emanating from our landed classes, most of who are sitting in the National Assemblies. If we think in terms of users and uses rather than provinces and administrative units, then we have to ask who are the agricultural users? In Pakistan, land rights determine water rights. If you own land, you can claim certain waters as your right. Agriculture might be our most valued sector but it has to be more efficient.

We can only produce more water by cutting use from elsewhere. This demand fro water is illogical and we have to be able to put this forcefully enough for people to conduct a more reasonable dialogue on water.

I think we’re very low on civic responsibility. Pakistan is very high in terms of individual philanthropy but once we give to charity, (we feel) our responsibility is over. People do not readily take on civic causes.

There is this big divide in the way in which governments and political parties take decisions and the way people think, because the way they think never gets translated into civic pressure. There is not much of a tradition of worthwhile civic action, least of all in the environment and water sectors.

We should start recycling water that is used for agriculture, industries.

There is one very simple principle that we have to adopt. No user should be allowed to put any polluted water into a fresh-water body. The user that pollutes the water should clean up the water before it is put back into the system. This principle has been used across the world for a very long time. It has to be done at every level.

We have to "make water" by saving and cleaning water from basic domestic units, right up to managing entire systems.

In my house all the water from condensation caused by air-conditioners is piped and re-used. We only use hand sprinklers, and we use the flushes very sparingly. There are many ways to save water. I’m very passionate about this issue. We need to build a people’s voice to call for saving, re-cycling and rationally using water.

KARACHI WATER SITUATION

The persistent shortfall of water is witnessed at large, specially in big cities and densely populated areas. Karachi and the related vicinity have been facing water shortage very frequently in the last one decade and the situation is growing worse. It is estimated that by the year 2010- 2012, there could be a severe water shortage that could result in a drought which could have serious implications for the country and its people. (Ohlson 2004). Apart from the water shortage itself the quality of water is also deteriorating day by day which causes further problems.

Karachi, the biggest city, has the highest growth rate, approximately population of 15 million with severe water crisis.

The Indus Delta, which hosts the sixth biggest mangrove forest in the world, is under serious threat and has been reduced from 0.6 million acres to 0.25 million acres.

The drying up of the Indus River downstream from Kotri Barrage has permanently damaged the eco system from there on words to the sea.

Karachi has grave scarcity of water and regularly witnesses’ riots in certain areas because of non-availability of water. In some parts of the city, water is even sold at high cost, depends on locations and public.

The total sewerage generated by Karachi alone at present is 315 MGD out of this only 90 MGD is being treated.

The optimum designed capacity of sewerage treatment plants is 151 MGD and the shortfall in treatment is 164 MGD.

Despite of providing 280 million gallons per day to the city, increased population has changed the demand figures of water to the city.

Demand of water keeps on increasing but supply remained limited, which resulted in the present shortfall.

The main source of water in Karachi is Indus River, which comprises 425 million gallons from Dhabeji and K2 project, 30 million gallons from Gharo and 100 million gallons from Hub Dam.

KARACHI AND ITS WATER EVILS

The city of Karachi has a population of 14 million and is the fifth most populous city in the world, composed of a myriad of cultures and peoples. The organization of the city is characteristically impulsive and rash, born perhaps out of its history as a settlement city for refugees at Partition. Consequently, the water related issues of the city are inherently imbued with overlapping needs and demands, political and social divisions and a confusion in interests and intentions.

Karachi, the most populated city and the largest industrial centre in Pakistan, is also a typical example of the problems associated with water. It has grave scarcity of water and regularly witnesses’ riots in certain areas because of non-availability of water.

There are certain areas in the city where water is sold at Rs.1000 to Rs.1500 per tanker. There are problems of proper maintenance of water supply. Bursting of the water supply pipes is very frequent.

WATER SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF KARACHI

The responsibility of water utilities belongs to the Karachi Water and Sewage Board (KW&SB). The KW&SB currently has 1.17 million consumers on its tax base, and provides facilities to industrial, governmental and household consumers.

Table 1

Current Users: 1.17 million

Industrial consumers: 35000

Governmental consumers: 750

Household consumers: 1.165 million

Per capita availability: 1050 cubic meters (Nationwide)

Per Capita requirement: 20 gallons per day

Currently, the water demands of the city, as proportioned by the KW&SB are well in excess of the supply received by the city. To compound matters, the supply of water after being adjusted for losses is even more pitiful.

Table 2

Current Demand: 648 MGD (est. figures for 2005)

Current Supply: 547 MGD (est. figures for 2005)

Net supply: 383 MGD (based on standard 30% loss ratio)

Actual Supply: 328 MGD (calculated on estimated 40% loss ratio)

Karachi has been allocated 1200 cusecs of water from the Indus River, which amounts to 650 MGD. The lines enter Karachi from the east, and run across the city to the west. The infrastructure of the distribution system is detailed further on. The main source is from the Greater Karachi Water Supply System, but several others supplement it. Currently, work is underway on the construction of the K-III scheme, which plans to increase overall supply by 100 MGD. Table lays out the different sources.

Table 3

Initial allocation of water from Indus: 1200 cusecs (650 MGD)

Indus Source:

Greater Karachi Water Supply System: 516 cusecs (280 MGD)

Gharo: 47 cusecs (25 MGD)

Addl. Water Supply: 75 cusecs (40 MGD)

K-II Scheme 185 cusecs (100 MGD)

Other Source:

Hub 185 cusecs (100 MGD)

Dumlottee 4 cusecs (2 MGD)

Total: 1010 cusecs (547 MGD)

Accounting for 30 % loss ratio [303 cusecs] [164 MGD]

Net Supply 707 cusecs (383 MGD)

Actual Supply: (328 MGD)

(Calculated on estimated 40% loss ratio)

Presently, the drawls for the city itself are given at about 475 MGD, with 67 MGD being drawn by the port and the Steel Mills. (See Table 4) Since the city’s appetite for water is already in satiated, the balance not yet drawn would soon be a thing of the past.

Table 4

Drawl for drinking purposes: 880 cusecs (475 MGD)

Drawl by Steel Mills: 30 cusecs (16 MGD)

Drawl by Port Qasim Authority 37 cusecs (20 MGD)

Total drawl: 947 cusecs (513 MGD)

Balance not yet drawn: 253 cusecs (137 MGD)

Figures from KW&SB

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

The distribution of the city’s water works has been laid down by the KW&SB. A total of 5376km of water mains and distribution lines run across the city, much of this infrastructure up to 30-40 years old. These mains connect to 131 pumping stations, and there are nine hydrants and bulk reservoirs for Karachi. (See table 5) The infrastructure of the city’s water works is suffering from depilation. One of the main problems has been of the gaps emerging within connections. Standard wear and tear has exacerbated gaps within pipe connections, leading to seepage of foreign particles in the water system. An engineering ploy to overcome this problem is to have the water flow at a high enough pressure to prevent external pollutants entering the system. A lack of pressure in the system is leading to degradation of both water quality as well as the piping structures.

Table 5

Distribution Infrastructure:

Water mains and distribution lines 5376 km

Pumping and Boosting stations 131

KW&SB Hydrants 9

Bulk Reservoirs 9

Area Reservoirs 4

Service Indicators:

Service Coverage 58%

24-hour Water Availability nil

Per Capita Consumption 197 l/c/d

Average Tariff Rs. 4.2/m3

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) the KW&SB provides the following connections and patterns for consumption.

Table 6

Consumption Patterns:

Domestic 459,493,390 m3

Non-domestic 100,864,465 m3

Total 560,357,855 m3

Service Connections:

Domestic 1,280,000

Non-domestic 3,200

Total 1,283,200

Small-scale vendors meet an estimated 20% of Karachi’s water requirements. This definition itself, however, also suffers from bias. Actual small-scale vendors deemed to be the donkey cart and manual operators provide a little over 1000 liters per day. This amount is not particularly substantial within the larger context of the city. The more infamous vendors of the city are the water tankers.

There are an estimated 20,000 plus water tankers operating in Karachi, servicing several of the areas that are suffering from water shortages.

In the late 1990’s, the drying out of the Hub well source required that preventive measures be taken to provide water to areas erstwhile connected to the Hub source, namely S.I.T.E. Manghopir, Baldia and Korangi.

The KW&SB provided for about 2000 water tankers, which were entrusted with the responsibility of offering water.

Demand for water was such that Pakistan Rangers (the paramilitary) personnel were deployed along with the drivers for protection. Slowly, the system of water tankers came to be handed over to the Rangers themselves.

The tanker system of Karachi has repeatedly been described as a ‘mafia’ in the local press owing to their control, but this is not where their damage is limited. Water tankers are increasingly being singled out for causing damage to the roads and contributing to traffic issues.

Table 7

Systems of Conveyance:

KW&SB coverage: 80%

Small scale vendors’ coverage 20%

Water tankers 30-60 MGD

Donkey cart operators 500-1000 liters

Manual transporters 30 liters

WASTAGE OF WATER

Karachi suffers from a high water wastage scenario, further aggravating the water crisis. Engineering losses are estimated to be at about 25-30%. However, these losses are limited to those calculated at distribution level. This calculation would disregard water losses at the end point levels, which ostensibly contributes a further 10-15% loss on the water levels.

*Water losses are caused by leakages in the piped system, as well as losses at hydrants and pumping stations.

* At the household level, losses are caused by faulty plumbing and storage facilities.

* A further contribution is made by the proliferation of suction pumps and motors installed at several end points. Installed to combat low levels of pressure, they cause the sucking in of foreign particles in the system as well as depilation of the existing system.

*The wastage is exacerbated by the fact that 90% of the system is on a gradual slope, which means the suction pumps also ‘steal’ water proportioned for others.

* Flushes installed in Karachi are generally constructed with a four-gallon capacity, according to western standards. It is calculated that a two-gallon model, which would also reduce wastage, would best meet local needs.

*Similarly, washing machines of high capacity also contribute to water wastage.

Table 8

Water Wastage:

During distribution: 30%

From source to pumps: 25% (approx.)

During piping: 5% (approx.)

At consumer level: 10% (approx.)

Official wastage statistics: 30%

Estimated wastage statistics: 40%

The KW&SB has begun work on a rehabilitation program, the System Strengthening Scheme. The plan seeks to save an approximate 90-100 MGD of water. The plan requires a high investment of capital as well as time, but it is an important step in taking preventive rather than wholesale curative measures.

AT THE CONSUMER END

The consumers of water have to be more conscious of the need for water conservation.

“Developed countries have traditionally placed emphasis on supply side options such as investment in construction and upgrading of water supply structures and treatment plants to meet water demand… A change in thinking, however has led to emergence of a demand side approach is based on the principles of least cost planning and demand management.”

It is noted that many users in Karachi waste a considerable amount of portable water for uses that do not require water of such quality. For purposes such as gardening, car washes etc, recycled or reusable water is a preferable alternative. There is a need for awareness education amongst the denizens to minimize water wastage at end-point level.

WATER POLLUTION

It is difficult to safely conclude on the level of water pollution, and the resultant quality of water in Karachi.

It is incorrect to rate the water quality according to general standards, such as those of the WHO. The level of salinity, ground water conditions etc of the sources. Having established such standards, appropriate solutions can be achieved.

There are three categories that we can divide pollutants into, namely physical, biological and chemical. Physical contaminants are present at the source, and are treated for at filter plants before being included into the water system. Biological pollutants that may be present are treated by chlorination, while the KW&SB does not note any major presence of chemical pollutants in its supply.

Table 9

Turbidity standard per WHO standards: 5.0 anti U

KW&SB tests of Karachi water: 0.9 anti U

TDA standard per WHO standards: 500 parts per million

KW&SB tests of Karachi water: 300 parts per million

Chloroform presence as per WHO standards: 0

KW&SB tests of Karachi water: 1 part per million

A major source of pollution is the infrastructure functioning Karachi. The pipes lining the city have outlived their usefulness. They allow for leaks and cracks that allow contaminants to seep in and pollute the water. This problem is deteriorated by the fact that Karachi lies on a geological fault and movements in cause further cracks and leaks in the piping system. As noted earlier, there is a very low level of pressure in the system, which allows for contaminants to creep in. Adequate pressure in the water system would avoid such a problem. Furthermore, since most of the city receives water on a rotational basis, the consumers’ infrastructure slowly becomes replete with contaminants.

With no practice of cleaning personal water tanks, and no service available for such measures, pollutants continue to plague the water quality.

MEASURES FOR HYGIENIC WATER

In recent years, mineral water available in packaged bottles has become quite in vogue. Delivery services provide up to a week’s supply of water directly to the door. However, these services cater to the higher echelons of society, and are not yet a viable solution for the masses.

WATER WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

One of the city’s more, if not the most, ubiquitous problem is that of the sewage system and its numerous tribulations.

The city lacks adequate infrastructure for servicing all of its sewage requirements, and overflows and spillages are a frequent occurrence in some areas.

Furthermore, satisfactory disposal locations have also not been created, and the former rivers of the city are consequently congested with sewage. Open depressions and fields are also used for sewage disposal, and soakage wells are also employed sometimes, all of which are gravely detrimental for the quality of the groundwater.

Table 10

Total Sewage (Waste Water): 315 MGD

Treated Effluents: 90 MGD

Untreated Sewage: 225 MGD

Drains into:

Lyari River: 140 MGD

Malir River: 70 MGD

Ground seepage etc.: 10-15 MGD

The city has constructed several treatment plants that are aimed towards treating the effluent before it is dumped into the ocean. This is carried out with the intention of preventing further pollution in the marine ecology of the city and the Indus Delta. However, owing to the operational problems of the existing system, which is beset by collapses, blockages, and diversions, about 83-88% of potential sewage flow is unavailable for reuse.

Three visions of the future related to Water Shortage:

1. Misery and shortages in the mega cities and drought in Africa

By 2010, 22 mega cities with populations larger than 10 million face major water and sewerage problems. The situation is gravest in China, where 550 of the country's 600 largest cities are running short. Growing demand for water by industry leads to serious over-exploitation with less and less water available for consumers and farmers. This leads to a fall in Chinese food production, which in turn leads to more imports and impacts on other countries.

2. China leads recycling rush as world moves to a new hydro economy

By 2010, the water shortage in many developing countries is recognised as one of the most serious political and social issues of the time. Lack of water is stopping development and in many countries the rural poor suffer as their water and other needs take second place to those of swelling cities and industry. Local government worldwide is increasingly distrusted over water allocation, and historical divides between rich and poor are exacerbated by water shortages. However, by 2025 a worldwide hydro economy is developing, led by China. Vast new investments are made in recycling water and the cost of desalination is greatly reduced.

3. Water is the means of social control as floods and disease devastate world

Water becomes a key symbol of protest around the world and is seen as the most serious social and political issue of the generation. By 2015, multinational companies are accused regularly of taking too much water in developing countries, cholera breaks out in London, and governments start to use water as a form of social control, subsidizing some sectors and rationing it to others. Great floods follow each other in quick succession. Deforestation leads to massive mudslides in Asia and increasing flooding affects Europe, damaging industry.

Managerial Communication- Long Report

Conclusion

Waste and inadequate management of water are the main culprits behind growing problems of water. More than half of humanity will be living with water shortages, depleted fisheries and polluted coastlines within 50 years because of a worldwide water crisis. Therefore it is necessary to consume water carefully in order to cope with the problems arising due to shortage of water. Ethically each individual is responsible to consume water keeping in mind the problems the world is facing due to its shortage.