City’s water supply down by 126mgd as pipeline bursts

Karachi
The city experienced a shortfall of 126mgd of water after a 72-inch diameter pipeline burst owing to a sudden power breakdown which affected the pumping stations early Monday morning.
According to Karachi Water and Sewerage Board Managing Director Hashim Raza Zaidi, power supply was struck by K-Electric (KE) at the Dhabeji, Pipri, NEK and Gharo pumping stations at around 2:50am. Deputy Managing Director Technical Services was directed to repair the pipeline in order to restore the supply of water, the MD stated.
Zaidi further claimed that it took the KE more than three hours to restore the power supply. The water utility had repeatedly complained of unexpected power breakdowns carried out by the KE in the past which were claimed to have affected the routine water supply to the city.

KE rejects
The K-Electric (KE) rejected allegations of hours-long power outages at water pumping stations put forth by the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). In a press statement, the power utility claimed that electricity had been supplied to the Gharo, Pipri and Hub water pumping stations and no load shedding was carried out there.
It said an internal fault had arisen at the Dhabeji pumping station, but the KE had fixed the issue immediately.
“A small portion of the pumping station being affected is no rationale for stopping the water supply to the entire city by the KWSB.”
“The KWSB is liable to pay the K-Electric a hefty sum of Rs38 billion in debts. Neither does the KWSB pay its bills nor does it have an alternate source of power in providing water to the metropolis. The water board should at least have a backup plan in case of a power outage at any pumping station.”
It said the power utility had exempted all pumping stations from load shed and had been involved in assisting the water board in repairing their internal faults. “It was very disappointing that the KWSB places baseless allegations on the power utility from time, transferring their core responsibility and dumping blame on the KE as an easy way out.”