Where has all the water gone?

The scarcity of clean drinking water in the metropolis has always been a norm in the summer season. However, in recent times, it has become increasingly difficult for residents to get clean water all year round. Despite paying their water bills, residents of the city have been at the mercy of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). Coupled with the water tanker mafia and alleged lobbying of bottled water companies, the water shortage has reached an unfortunate magnitude.

Another aspect of Karachi’s water issue is the correlation between uncertainty of power supply and water shortage. Without the smooth flow of electricity, water pumping stations fail to match the daily demand for water. In most areas, the water supply timing by the KWSB and loadshedding hours are identical. This has deprived people from storing water. Karachi is a mega city that requires more than 1,000 million gallons of water per day to meet its needs. Keeping in mind the increasing population, there is an inherent need to raise the water capacity of the city on an urgent basis.

Arwa Ali Asgher

Karachi