RAWALPINDI: The Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Rawalpindi has initiated an extensive campaign to test the quality of water across all its sources and for end users, following directives from Kinza Murtaza, Director General of Rawalpindi Development Authority.
In a meeting, it was declared that a water quality analysis laboratory has been established at the Rawal Lake Filtration Plant to consistently monitor and analyze the water quality provided through various sources including the Rawal Lake Filtration Plant itself, overhead reservoirs of Khanpur Dam, mini filtration plants, and tube wells within Wasa’s jurisdiction.
The objective is to assess the water quality in the distribution system up to the point it reaches consumers’ taps.
The Wasa Lab is presently examining three categories of water quality parameters: physical, chemical, and bacteriological.
Physical parameters cover appearance, temperature, pH, turbidity, conductance, dissolved oxygen, and total dissolved solids (TDS) of water.
Chemical parameters include alkalinity, hardness, sulphate, calcium, magnesium, chlorides, residual chlorine, sulphite, nitrite, ammonia, iron, and arsenic levels in water. Bacteriological parameters involve total coliform count and fecal coliform count.
The responsibility of collecting, analyzing, and submitting water quality testing reports in accordance with WHO guidelines for safe drinking water falls on the Assistant Director (Water Quality)/Junior Research Officer (JRO).
A comprehensive plan for regularly monitoring the water quality of surface and groundwater sources of Wasa has been formulated and put into action. Rawalpindi city has been segmented into six zones: West-I, East-I, West-II, East-II, PP-12, and PP-13.
The Assistant Director (Water Quality) along with laboratory personnel inspects and collects samples from 40 tube wells and 10 mini filtration plants every week. A water testing monitoring plan covering Wasa’s entire jurisdiction will be finalized within three months.
As part of the Punjab Government’s cleanliness campaign, 127 mini filtration plants have undergone rehabilitation.
Kinza Murtaza, Director General of RDA, stressed the significance of ensuring the quality of water supplied to the residents of Rawalpindi and expressed satisfaction with Wasa Rawalpindi’s mechanisms for ensuring water quality.
Nonetheless, she reiterated a zero-tolerance policy towards contaminated water and emphasized strict adherence to all SOPs. She also mentioned her personal commitment to monitoring water quality, warning that any negligence would face severe consequences.
