Rain spell increases Hub Dam water levels

Karachi

The Hub Dam, which supplies around 100 million gallons of water per day (mgd) to Karachi and around 60mgd to Hub Tehsil of Balochistan, received approximately 14 months worth of water reserves over the recent spell of rains in Lasbela and adjoining areas, according to Wapda officials.

“Three days of rain in the catchment areas of Hub Dam have raised the reservoir level of the dam up till 305.50ft, which is approximately 14 months of water reserves for Karachi and Hub,” said Hub Dam Project Director Umer Tariq Khoso.

He stated that the reservoir level was at 298.65 feet on August 21, but after the recent spell of rains, the level had increased to 305.50 feet. “Over the past 24 hours, Hub Dam’s water level rose by over four feet,” said Khoso.

The project director maintained that Hub Dam was continuously receiving water and teams of Wapda officials deployed there were continuously monitoring the reservoir levels.

The Hub Dam, a major water reservoir on the border of the Sindh and Balochistan, is the only source of water for drinking, industrial and agricultural purposes for the residents of Hub Tehsil of Lasbela, while also providing 100mgd of water to Karachi for areas including North Karachi, Surjani Town, Manghopir, Baldia and adjoining locations.

The Hub Dam had reached dead level this summer due to a lack of rains in the catchment areas and authorities had to pump water out to supply it to nearby areas. Officials had also carried out some experiments to use the flow of water in the canals that supply water to Karachi and Balochistan for generation of electricity and these experiments showed that by using latest technology and effective turbines, a few dozen megawatts of electricity could be generated, which could be provided to nearby towns and villages.

The project, however, was put on backburner after the dam dried up due to lack of rains. However, Wapda officials said the monsoon season would continue till September 15 and they were expecting a couple more spells of rain in the catchment areas of the dam. If full to capacity, the dam can supply water to both Karachi and Hub for three years at a rate of 100mgd and 60mgd, respectively.