ISLAMABAD – The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has issued a new directive mandating the construction of recharge wells in all housing units as part of rainwater harvesting efforts.
This decision comes after the proposal to implement recharge wells was officially approved, with the CDA ensuring strict compliance.
Official data reveals that the CDA’s Board reviewed a proposal in March of this year, emphasizing the need for mandatory recharge wells in every housing unit to replenish groundwater reserves. Participants in the board meeting expressed their appreciation for the proposal and stressed the importance of having rainwater harvesting tanks and small wells in each house to recharge the groundwater. As per the new regulation, building plans will not be approved unless they include provisions for water recharging wells and tanks.
The proposal was initially submitted to the CDA’s building control section by the water management wing, which also recommended amendments to existing by-laws. The proposal highlighted the significant benefits of recharge wells in replenishing the underground water table and combating the annual depletion rate, which currently stands at a minimum of four feet. The CDA has already constructed 70 underground wells at various locations, including public parks, resulting in a notable increase in the underground water table.
At present, the city of Islamabad requires approximately 200 million gallons per day (mgd) of water, while the CDA is only able to provide 90 mgd to its residents. The population of Islamabad, as per the 2017 census, has surpassed 2 million, nearly two and a half times its size in 1998.
This rapid population growth has put immense pressure on the already strained water resources. An official stated, “The implementation of the law mandating the construction of recharge wells in housing units will play a crucial role in replenishing the overburdened groundwater and effectively managing urban flooding in the city.”
(Islamabad51-Newsdesk)
