Public urged to prioritise use of surface water resources

ABBOTTABAD: The faculty members of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Abbottabad Campus, on Wednesday emphasized the importance of water conservation and urged the public to prioritise the use of surface water resources to safeguard underground aquifers for future generations.

The call was made when the students and faculty from UET’s Architecture Department visited the under-construction Choona Water Treatment Plant as part of an outreach and awareness effort.

They praised the water treatment plant initiative launched by the Local Government, Elections & Rural Development Department, recognizing its role in preventing the depletion of Abbottabad’s groundwater reserves.The Water and Sanitation Services Company Abbottabad organized the exposure visit in collaboration with the Directorate of Media.

UET Peshawar Chief Engineer Mohsin Shehzad of the City Implementation Unit under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project stated that the plant in Abbottabad would provide clean drinking water to 36,000 households.

“This project is being developed under the KPCIP by the LGE&RDD with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB),” he said.The official explained that the plant would purify 6.85 million gallons of water daily, sourced from nearby mountain springs.

Highlighting the region’s growing water needs, he noted that from May 1 to July 31, 2024, more than 6.25 million domestic and international tourists visited Abbottabad and its surrounding tourist destinations, placing immense pressure on the city’s water supply and underground resources.

Prof Dr Shabir Qureshi, head of the Architecture Department at UET Abbottabad, applauded the project, stating, “provision of clean water is a fundamental right, crucial for ensuring a healthy society. The availability of safe drinking water is also vital for promoting tourism and fostering long-term economic growth in the region.” The water will be transported via a 17-kilometer pipeline to the treatment plant, located on a hill in Choona before being supplied to the city.