By Abid Imtiaz
Groundwater is one of Pakistan’s most important natural resource which supplies drinking water to households, supports agriculture, livestock and provides water for industrial activities. Millions of people depends on groundwater obtained through hand pumps, tube wells, motorized boreholes and other means. However, with the passage of time groundwater quality is deteriorating in many parts of Pakistan due to excessive pumping, agricultural chemicals, untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and naturally occurring minerals. The severity and type of contamination vary by region, aquifer depth, geology, and land use. Millions of people of all ages especially children are affected by drinking contaminated ground water thus resulting in a silent health hazard.
Reasons Explained
Microbial contamination (E.Coli, total coliforms) is due to untreated sewage, leaking septic tanks, open drains, and animal waste causing micro-organisms into groundwater. This is a major concern in densely populated settlements and areas with poorly protected wells. Nitrate contamination due to excessive fertilizer use, animal manure, and sewage infiltration can increase nitrate concentrations. Salinity and excessive mineral content(total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium, chloride) dissolved salts, geological conditions, irrigation return flows, and seawater intrusion in coastal areas can make groundwater unsuitable for drinking or irrigation. Toxic chemicals and metals Industrial waste water, mining, waste disposal, and natural geological sources add arsenic, chromium, lead, and other contaminants. Arsenic is a particular concern in parts of the Indus Basin.
Whole Country Problem
Punjab’s major concerns include arsenic in parts of the Indus Plain, nitrate, microbial contamination near settlements and salinity in southern and desert areas. Industrial and agricultural pollution also the add-ons. Sindh is battling with salinity, brackish groundwater, microbial contamination and arsenic. In coastal districts and the Indus Delta, seawater intrusion is a risk to a large population. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) groundwater quality varies between valleys and mountainous areas. Urban sewage, agricultural runoff, localized salinity and naturally occurring arsenic in parts of Dera Ismail Khan. Baluchistan also suffering with groundwater scarcity, declining water tables and naturally high mineral or salt concentrations in several areas. Islamabad, northern Pakistan, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan conditions are highly localized. Springs and mountain aquifers can be vulnerable to microbial contamination, while urban groundwater affected by sewage leakage and development projects.
Health Hazards
Contaminated groundwater is a major public-health concern because millions of people depend on wells, hand pumps, tube wells, and groundwater supplies for drinking, cooking, and irrigation. When groundwater contains harmful microorganisms, toxic chemicals, heavy metals, or excessive salts, it can cause illnesses ranging from diarrhea to cancer and damage to vital organs. According to World Health Organization (WHO) the health effects are categorized in short term and long term .Short term effects are diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever from certain waterborne, infections, dehydration and weakness. Long term effects on kidney and liver damage from certain toxic chemicals, developmental/learning problems in children, cardiovascular disease, bone and dental disorders, increased cancer risk from certain contaminants including arsenic. Methemoglobinemia a dangerous reduction in the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, particularly in infants. Some chemicals may affect reproductive or hormonal health.
Govt Efforts
The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) published a national ground water assessment based on monitoring data collected over multiple years. Its findings highlighted that approximately 61% to 69% of tested drinking water sources across Pakistan is unsafe for human consumption due to heavy biological and chemical contamination. The Indus plain, particularly parts of Punjab and Sindh are important areas of concern as bulk of Pakistan population resides there. The report also explained with details other parts of Pakistan with more or less same results. Provincial governments have also launched many clean drinking water schemes, however, the increase in patients in hospitals across country suffering from water borne diseases points to some missing links in policy implementation.
Way Forward
Department like Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) are timely matured departments in all provinces of Pakistan with a complete ground network at tehsil level. They are providing clean drinking water to mostly rural areas. Therefore, PHEDs’ be gelled with the new departments for providing clean drinking water. PHEDs’ and PCRWR provides water testing and technical advice through its regional and district laboratory network throughout Pakistan. To provide verified safe alternative sources or suitable arsenic-removal treatment. Protect well heads, repair sewage leaks and apply validated disinfection methods. Assess alternative aquifers, blending feasibility and appropriate desalination or reverse osmosis treatment. In agriculture fertilizer management, control manure runoff and protect well recharge zones. Enforce wastewater treatment, monitor industrial clusters and prevent hazardous waste disposal near wells. Regulate excessive pumping, promote efficient irrigation and implement scientifically designed managed aquifer recharge. Publish water-quality results and advise communities to test drinking-water sources periodically.
Conclusion
People of Pakistan has to be educated on the hazardous use of contaminated drinking water. It has to be the collective effort in hands with the concerned departments of Government of Pakistan all across provinces to counter this monster which is taking toll of health of young generation of Pakistan. Pakistan cannot prosper in the world while carrying bulk of sick young generation.
The writer is a former govt officer from MoD & GIS Consultant
