Keywords

6.1 Introduction

For all the living organisms, water is considered as a fundamental necessity as it is significantly related to health. But increasing various diseases in the human beings and properties of water in the form of physical, chemical, and biological are very much crucial to address (Hanna-Attisha et al. 2016; Shah et al. 2012). In the present time, several toxic materials and their existence in drinking water is a major problem for both developed and developing economies (Ahmed et al. 2013; Nawab et al. 2017). Production activities of various industries have produced harmful wastes which ultimately mixed up with the drinking water and cause a serious problem (Nawab et al. 2017). From the global context, one-fifth of the population is facing the problem of contamination in the drinking water in the form of feces and more than half million deaths have been recorded worldwide (Singh et al. 2017). However, the situation of water contamination is much worst in developing and poor economies because water supply sources are a major contributor for the mortality and morbidity (Ashbolt 2004; Mosley and Chen 1984; Singh et al. 2017; Wright et al. 2004).

6.2 Overview of Quality of Drinking Water in Pakistan

A country like Pakistan is blessed with the natural resources, but the approach to drinking water is up to a dangerous limit. It is found that only 20% of the population has access to safe and clean drinking water in the country (Daud et al. 2017). The rest of the 75% is forced to drink either fully or partially contaminated water. The massive utilization is the key reason for the poor water supply for domestic, industrial, and agricultural purposes (Daud et al. 2017). Besides, the addition of municipal sewage and waste material and industrial wastewater and lack of decontamination and monitoring of quality at various water plants are also serious challenges. As per the findings of Pakistan National Convervation Strategy (PNCS), 40% of the diseases are because of contaminated drinking water which includes giardiasis, diarrhea, infection, gastroenteritis, and intestinal worms. The condition of infant deaths around the country is 60% which are caused by water-related diarrhea; thus having the highest ratio is the Asian region (Ahmed et al. 2007; Shahid et al. 2015). The risk of contaminated drinking water is the worst in the most populated province of Punjab and after that in other regions (Daud et al. 2017; Khan et al. 2013, 2017). According to the findings of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), almost 20–40% of hospitals in Pakistan have patients who are facing the waterborne illness (UNICEF 2016). Figures 6.1 and 6.2 explain the probability of arsenic level in the different regions of Pakistan. As per the report of WHO (2017–2018), it is noted that the probability of arsenic level with unsafe drinking water is almost 100% in the most populated area of Punjab (Lahore). Such alarming situation of arsenic contamination in drinking water is causing severe health hazards to millions of populations across the country and creating diseases like lung cancer, skin disorder, and heart disease (DAWN 2017).

Fig. 6.1
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Arsenic in drinking water. (Source: Guglielmi 2017)

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Fig. 6.2
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Contaminated water poisoned map (Pakistan) (Podgorski et al. 2017)

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Due to a microbe in drinking water, toxin issue is also another problem in drinking water. Such contamination is very harmful to both humans and animals and causes disease like liver and kidney problems (Badar et al. 2017). The existence of other heavy metals in drinking water causes a serious health problem with their ubiquitous bioavailability. The contamination issue is not just because of arsenic but similar other metals in surface water, groundwater, and wastewater as expressed by Waseem et al. (2014). They have also claimed that such contamination is damaging the nutrition of vegetables, overall ecological environment, and soil as well. For the high level of arsenic pollution in water, Rasool et al. (2017) have pointed out the anthropogenic activities across the country in different regions. As per the findings of Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), it was found that majority of the people in the country are relying on the groundwater, unearthed through motor and hand pump. This ratio is 60% in urban and almost 70% in rural areas. The issue of over population in urban areas has increased the demand for the drinking, and most of the habitants are conntected to private water suppliers. A study conducted by Hamid et al. (2013) has examined the performance of WASA in the capital city of Punjab: Lahore. They have examined the physicochemical elements and found that the level of arsenic and fluoride is above the national set standards and WHO limits. In addition, it is found that water lines from some points are mixed with the sewerage lines because of the existence of coliform in the selected sample.

6.3 Steps by the Government to Control Water Contamination

For the last couple of years, Government of Pakistan is trying to develop various strategies to control water pollution in the country; for instance, the introduction of water policy and related mechanism for the usage of all types of water and repair of infrastructure, etc. The plan to develop the water policy at the national level was initially proposed in the year 2015, and point of focus is to protect the drinking water for the citizens (Kiani 2015). In addition, due to this policy, first-time policy makers have realized that water is among the scarce resources and can only cover the specific demand. So, the focus of the policy is to manage the water demand with the control of population growth as well. Besides, under this policy, it is promised that safe and clean drinking water will be provided to the entire population: urban and rural (Kiani 2015).

To control the increasing threat of water contamination in Pakistan, various strategies are available which needs serious attention from the Government. At first, the legislative control provides an overall framework to control this threat. In Pakistan, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) is directly responsible for the quality of water and development of relevant standards. Drinking water standards are established which include key parameters, standard values, World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and final remarks. Meanwhile, color of drinking water (<15 TCU/Hazen Units.), taste and odor with turbidity (below 5 NTU), pH (6.5–8.5), chemical parameters for aluminum (less than 0.2 mg/L), antimony (<0.005 mg/L), arsenic (≤ to 0.05 mg/L), barium (proposed to be 0.7 mg/L), and boron (0.3 mg/L) as per WHO guidelines (Ministry of Environment 2008). Although these set standards are very much effective to a gradual improvement, these standards are still missing which show poor management of drinking water by the relevant authorities. For the sustainability of the water, steps are also taken at the provincial level. For instance, in the city of Lahore, a rule has been passed for Sunday not to wash the cars by the individuals to control the water conservation. At recent time, Chief Minister of Punjab has established a program under the title of “Punjab Saaf Pani” and has established 80 water filtration plants in south Punjab by the end of 2017 (Malik 2017). For the control of water waste, both at the domestic and industrial level, the PCRWR has established eight centers in different regions. Each center has its strategic significance with the research and development (R&D) objectives and has research and test laboratories, experimental farms, drainage installation equipment, and groundwater investigation cells. For R&D, a national water quality laboratory (NWQL) is established in the headquarter in Islamabad which is trying to get international accreditation for water quality (PCRWR 2018). NWQL is equipped with the testing of all types of water which include drinking and irrigation. Besides, a network of water quality laboratories has also been established to provide water testing facilities in major cities as well. The establishment of the National Capacity Building Institute (NCBI) for water quality management with the collaboration of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is another significant effort for the improvement of water quality (PCRWR 2018). NCBI has the following objectives:

  • To establish a permanent national level setup for the water supply agencies in Pakistan for water quality monitoring

  • To train key managers, staff members, engineers, and scientists

  • To produce and promote certifications and diplomas for the water quality management

Besides, PCRWR has completed various projects in the last 15 years which are directly or indirectly linked to the water quality and its improvement. Details are shown in Table 6.1.

Table 6.1 Completed development projects (2001–2015)
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6.4 Some Approaches to Control the Water Pollution

For the better public health and sustainability of the environment, protecting the drinking water and its different sources like lake, river, and other underground springs is very much significant. Reducing the water illness secures not only the health diseases but also increases the standard of living in the global community. Various steps have been identified which can protect the drinking water from imputed contamination from the harmful metals. Details are as under:

Normally, all types of drinking water either coming from the ground surface or any other source are vulnerable to numerous contaminators. Multiple barrier approach is a very meaningful strategy which contains several steps to control the water contamination. These barriers include the risk prevention barrier (keeping contamination away from entering various drinking water sources), risk management barriers (Safe Drinking Water Act, hiring of trained and skilled operators, and emergency response plan, i.e., disaster management), risk compliance barriers (effectiveness in dealing with safety of drinking water), and finally individual action barrier (consistency in vigilance of drinking water) (EPA 2015).

In addition, various other steps can be considered to protect the groundwater from contamination. The first strategy is the selection of the location which must not be near to the polluted area before drilling a well or construction of any water supply. In remote areas country like Pakistan, farmers and villagers have significant information about the best cite in their areas for the drinking water and drilling of wells. However, selection of a site for the construction of well or similar water facility in the future should consider the following key points:

  • It can provide convenient access to all the inhabitants, throughout the year.

  • It should be constructed at the level where it has a minimum level of threat like a seasonal flood or any natural disaster.

  • At a reasonable distance from the agriculture land where consistent usage of pesticides is present.

  • It is also at a reasonable distance from the dumping or recycling area.

6.5 Recommendations for the Treatment of Contaminated Water

The following are the key recommendations for the Government and various administrative staff members who are directly or indirectly involved in dealing with the quality of drinking water. These are:

  1. 1.

    In housing societies across the country, installation of monitoring plants is very much necessary which will treat the polluted water in a significant way.

  2. 2.

    Replacement of old and leaking water and sewerage pipes needs serious attention in different areas, especially in Punjab province.

  3. 3.

    To evaluate the overall water system, assessment through microbial technique can be a significant tool.

  4. 4.

    The improved drainage system is very much required across the country in most of the remote areas, this is among the major issues causing water pollution.

  5. 5.

    Development of long-term water management plan by the Government authorities regarding abstraction, discharge, supply, and finally the protection of existing water resources.

  6. 6.

    Appropriate distribution of drinking water source across the country with the application of regulatory compliance and their proposed impact on the overall environment.

  7. 7.

    Priority should be given to preserving the sources of drinking water and its demand through contingency plans.

  8. 8.

    For the federal level water management policy, integration with the provinces and with the neighboring countries should be the first strategy to be developed.

  9. 9.

    Water authorities should make sure that the set of standards are followed by the society and the industry in the country.

  10. 10.

    Integration of managerial, technical, and financial measures for the management of wastewater through treatment plant should be under regular surveillance for smooth working.

6.6 Conclusion

The present study has reviewed the overall scenario of water pollution in the region of Pakistan. Among the key issues, arsenic contamination in the drinking water specifically in the Punjab province has been highlighted with significant findings. Based on the stated facts, it is found that sustainability of drinking water in Pakistan is at a dangerous level and the Government and relevant authorities require some serious steps. A review is also conducted for overall performance by numerous departments, responsible for the quality of drinking water with the projects completed during the time of 2001–2015. Millions of investments is done by the Government of Pakistan to sustain the water quality, but still not enough due to various challenges like managerial, technical, financial, and demographic as well. However, to control the increasing threat of unsafe drinking water, immediate protective measures and treatment technologies are the need of time.