By Dr. Muhammad Bashir Lakhani Director (Water & Energy Division) Techno-Consult International (Pvt.) Ltd.
A city of more than 16 million inhabitants (as per census 2017) Area of Karachi District 3600 sq. km (more than 1300 sq km built-up area) Water Demand @ 54 gallon per person per day - 864 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) Current Supply ?????? Water Loss due to leakage and/or theft
Water is being supplied to Karachi from a considerably • distant located water source through bulk conveyance system comprising of a complex network of canals, conduits, siphons, multi-stage pumping and filtration More than 110 KM Bulk Transmissions, Distribution • Network ~10,000 KM, 25 Bulk Reservoirs, 150 + Pumping Stations, ~ 50 m kWh Power Consumption per month costing about 700 million • Any addition to this system or implementation of any Water Transmission / Supply Project for Karachi City requires 8-10 years from project planning to actual operation Long-Term – Huge Cost • Any Loss of Water further aggravate the shortage problem. Solution – Short-Term / Mid Term /Economical
PRINCIPAL WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES IN KARACHI Hub Dam Hub Canal North Karachi Kinjhar Manghapir PS Lake Hub WTW NEK Karachi GUJJO HEAD COD Pipri WORKS Bulk Supply Conduits High Point Dhabeji PS Arabian Sea
Water from Kinjhar Lake to Karachi City including Manora & BB Ilands
Water supply to Islands - Eastern Backwater Western Backwater Salt Plant Baba Island Route Length 12 Km Bhit Island Salehabad Arabian Sea
Demand in 2017- (14.9 M ) 805 MGD Demand in 2019- (16 M) 860 MGD Projected Demand in 2030 (23.3 M)- 1260 MGD Total Capacity of existing WS transmission system 550 MGD from Indus System through Kinjhar Lake and Dhabeji Pumping System 100 MGD from Hub Dam Reservoir Actual Supply to Karachi About 400 – 450 MGD from Indus System (Pumping Machinery problems, Port Qasim and Steel Mills Supplies and theft from main transmission Lines) Limited Water supply available from Hub Dam ~ 50 MGD Water Loss - Pipes Leakages / Theft ?????
Water Loss and /or unaccounted water Contamination due to infiltration of wastewater / sewage into water supply system
Breakup of water leakages from the bulk transmission network and distribution network was as under: Water leakages from Primary distribution mains 20-25% Water leakages from distribution lines 15-20% Total assessed leakage (1989-90)* 35-45% Total assessed leakage as per JICA** (2008) 25-30% Leakages are from Pipe Joints, damaged /rusted old pipes and damages / inappropriate house connections points /clamps * Survey and Study by International Consultants **The latest study conducted on KW&SB’s water supply was JICA Master Plan completed in 2008.
In Karachi around 90% of water is supplied from distant located Indus river source through a gigantic transmission system comprising of canals , conduits, huge pumping complexes and filtration plants. Wastage of water through leaking pipes is not only the wastage of this scarce commodity but also loss of limited financial resources. A detailed study conducted by an international consulting firm on water loss reduction in the year 1989-90 concluded that around 35-45% water pumped from the source is wasted due to leaking pipes in the primary and secondary distribution network.
In case of 24/7 supply the only drawback of leaking pipes is loss of water but in case of intermittent supply the water which oozes out from the leaking joints and loose house connection clamps infiltrate in the lines during non-supply hours due to creation of negative pressure in the secondary distribution network. Persistent leakage from any leaking joint or connection clamps makes it way towards the nearby perforated or damaged sewer manholes and from the same path wastewater may enter in water lines due to negative pressure (suction). Complaints of water contamination are increasing in the city as the outlived rubber rings of Asbestos cement pipes laid decades back have lost the flexibility and causing leakages/contamination . Use of substandard and improperly fixed connection clamps by consumers is also said to be the major cause of water contamination.
Galvanized Iron (G.I) pipes PRCC pipe with rubber ring joints • Used at very few places, not in use now. • Used for water trunk mains Asbestos Cement (A.C) pipes with comet joints rubber rings Mild Steel pipes • Its use has been prohibited in Sindh around 10 years back. • Used for Water Trunk mains and HDPE pipes with fusion rising mains butt joints • Used in secondary distribution network only being costlier than Cast Iron pipes with lead MS pipe in larger dia. joints UPVC pipe with solution • Used for Water trunk mains as joints & rubber ring joints well as in distribution network, obsolete nowadays. • Not a good option due to quality issues.
HDPE pipe is the best choice for use in water supply network as it is a joint less pipe hence no leakages from joints. Further it has no wear and tear with age, low coefficient of friction hence lesser head loss. KW&SB started the use of HDPE pipe in the year 2006 in Tameer e Karachi Program (TKP). With the use of HDPE pipe the chances of water leakages in the distribution network are confined to house connection clamps only.
Metering on water transmission lines for water audit. Revival of leak detection unit in KW&SB. Making appropriate allocations for leak repairs and minimizing unaccounted for water. Immediate repair of the visible leakages on bulk transmission lines. Improved supervision of works. Control on use of substandard connection clamps by the consumers. Optimizing the use of HDPE pipes. Discourage use of UPVC pipe due to quality issues. Acquiring the latest available equipment for leak detection. Horizontal learning and sharing best practices/ success stories. Training of the staff for leak detection. Training and licensing of plumbers. Consumer education programs.
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