Wasa launches water quality testing drive

Rawalpindi:Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Rawalpindi has launched a comprehensive water quality testing campaign for all its sources and end users, as directed by Rawalpindi Development Authority Director General Kinza Murtaza.

A meeting was held where it was announced that a water quality analysis lab has been set up at Rawal Lake Filtration Plant to regularly monitor and analyse the quality of water supplied through Rawal Lake Filtration Plant, overhead reservoirs of Khanpur Dam, mini filtration plants and tube wells located within the jurisdiction of Wasa. The purpose is to analyse the quality of water in the distribution system as it reaches the consumer's tap.

Wasa Lab is currently analysing three types of water quality parameters - physical, chemical, and bacteriological parameters. Physical parameters include appearance, temperature, PH, turbidity, conductance, dissolved oxygen, and TDS of water. Chemical parameters include alkalinity, hardness, sulphate, calcium, magnesium, chlorides, residual chlorine, sulphite, nitrite, ammonia, iron, and arsenic of water. Bacteriological parameters include total coliform count and faecal coliform count.

The Assistant Director (Water Quality)/Junior Research Officer (JRO) is responsible for collecting, analysing, and submitting water quality testing reports according to WHO guidelines for safe drinking water. A comprehensive plan for regular monitoring of water quality for surface and ground water sources of Wasa has been prepared and implemented. Rawalpindi city has been divided into six zones - West-I, East-I, West-II, East-II, PP-12, and PP-13. The Assistant Director (Water Quality) inspects and takes samples of 40 tube wells and 10 mini filtration plants along with laboratory staff every week. A water testing monitoring plan for the whole jurisdiction of WASA will be completed within three months.

127 mini filtration plants have been rehabilitated under the cleanliness drive of the Government of Punjab. RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza emphasised the importance of water quality being supplied to the citizens of Rawalpindi and showed her satisfaction with the mechanism of ensuring water quality by Wasa Rawalpindi. However, she further directed that there will be a zero-tolerance policy on contaminated water, and all SOPs should be strictly observed. She further said that she would personally monitor the water quality, and any negligence found will be dealt with strict action.