1. URBAN WATER DISTRIBUTION
Problems and Suggestions

2. Existing Condition and Problems
Introduction
No intelligent being can deny the need to properly save, conserve, better utilize, rationalize and manage the fast depleting water sources
In an age of acute commercialization and escalating demand for water Karachi is one such city in the world which is unfortunate to have gained the status of a mega-polis yet a vision to address its mega problems is absent
The following presentation entails a brief overview of the overall water situation in Karachi and a list of possible and workable solutions to surmount the mammoth challenge of not only supplying adequate water to city dwellers but also efficiently manage all the related aspects

3. Existing Water Sources of Karachi (almost all from Indus water)
Karachi, with a growing population of 22 million, is fast becoming a water-starved city
KWSB is responsible for water supply development, regulation and disposal of sewage

4. Existing Water Sources of Karachi (almost all from Indus water)
Exiting quota for KWSB from Indus river is 550 to 580mg/d
KWSB supplies water through: Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply (GKBWS); K-II; K-III and other schemes
K-II was completed in 1998 with world bank assistance supplying 100 to 120 mg/d water to Karachi
K-III was completed in 2006 with Government of Pakistan assistance providing an additional 100mg/d

5. Existing Water Sources of Karachi (almost all from Indus water)
Water Supply from Indus River to Karachi
Gharo
28 mg/d
GKBWS (Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply System)
480 mg/d
Steel Mills (Raw Water Supply)
26 mg/d
Port Qasim (Raw Water Supply)
7 mg/d
Army Pump House
40 mg/d
Total
581 mg/d

6. Existing Water Sources of Karachi (almost all from Indus water)
Other sources
Hub dam – 75 mg/d
Ground water – meager amounts
Desalination of sea water – e.g Hubco, KANUP, DHA – not a feasible source
Reuse of treated effluents – industrial use but KWSB financial and technical constraints

7. Total Water Supply by KWSB
Present water supply to Karachi is merely 550mg/d against demand of 1,100mg/d i.e. a 50 percent demand supply gap
Not all of KWSB 550mg/d could reach users due to power cuts e.g. in summer KWSB’s supply is cut by approximately 100mg/d

8. Total Water Supply by KWSB
Total Water Supply to Karachi
Bulk Water System
Capacity
Present Supply
GK System
280 mg/d
300 mg/d
Haleji System
20 mg/d
30 mg/d
K-II System
100 mg/d
120 mg/d
K-III System
Dumlotee Wells
0 mg/d
Hub System
80 mg/d
Total
600 mg/d
550 mg/d

9. Distribution Networks
Water Trunk Mains
Distribution pipeline consists over 4850 kilometers
About 70 percent of existing pipelines are made of asbestos cement – financial constraints on CDGK and Sindh government programs to replace outdated pipes
Distribution and suction pumps
KWSB installed 139 distribution pumping stations to counter differences in land elevation between reservoir and end user
Domestic consumers’ small suction pumps suck water from distribution pipes forcibly and can deteriorate and damage the distribution lines

10. Distribution Networks
Water losses in distribution network
KWSB estimates that water loses in the distribution network varies from 30 to 35 percent - deterioration of existing pipes and illegal connections make matters worse
Role of water tankers
Initially introduced by KWSB to supply to suburbs and remote areas of Karachi
Later extended to homes and workplaces of government in facing water shortage
With a consistent water demand supply gap, illegal hydrants still emerge in the city
By mid-2015 KWSB had demolished 200 illegal water hydrants
Contrary to common perception water tankers supply only around 5% of the city’s water supply – KWSB estimates put it at 3%

11. Financial Management and Recovery
Low water tariff and poor billing recovery resulting in increasing arrears
Major Problems
Symptoms
Consequences
Poor conditions of water distribution system
Intermitted water supply
High level of leakage
Low system pressure
Contamination
Inequitable distribution
Customers’ distrust in KWSB provides
Reluctance of customers to pay for the services
Insufficient revenues
Lack of autonomy
High level of receivables and bad debt
Tanker supplies
Illegal connections
Low tariffs
Financial mismanagement, and insufficient revenues
Low morale of KWSB staff
Weak financial capacity
Delay in capital replacement
Delay in system expansion
Poor current maintenance
Poor working environment (offices and equipment)
Main reliance on govt. funding
Deteriorating services
Deteriorating assets
Political interference
Absence of measured supplies and volumetric charging system
Absence of system input metering and retail supply metering
No incentives for efficient use of water
No boundary of responsibilities for maintenance of connections
No means to estimate leakage and non-revenue water
Negates the issue of illegal connections at retail level
No control of water supply system
Misuse and wastage of water
Leakage, non-revenue water, and illegal connections (again)
Source: JICA Report 2008

12. Water Tariff (excluding taxes)
KWSB Water Tariff
with effect from July 1, 2015
Type of Customer
Water Tariff (excluding taxes)
Residential Plot: 60 to 120 sq. yards
Rs. 144/month
Residential Plot: 121 to 200 sq. yards
Rs. 222/month
Residential Plot: 201 to 300 sq. yards
Rs. 328/month
Residential Plot: 301 to 400 sq. yards
Rs. 459/month
Residential Plot: 401 to 600 sq. yards
Rs. 675/month
Residential Plot: 601 to 1000 sq. yards
Rs. 976/month
Flat & Office up to 500 sq. feet
Rs. 110/month
Flat & Office from 501 to 800 sq. feet
Rs. 166/month
Small Shop
Rs. 52/month
Bulk Supply Residential
Rs. 130 per 1000 gallons / month
Bulk Supply Commercial
Rs. 222 per 1000 gallons / month
Bulk Supply Industrial

13. Case Study – Connection between Flood in Karachi and Malir River System
Malir district comprises most of the rural areas of Karachi
Malir river is a seasonal river originating from the Kohistan region and depends on rain and water flow from Indus river system
Despite Karachi receiving low annual rainfall, heavy or torrential rains in Malir and Kohistan typically result in Karachi coming under flood like situations
Malir river system has only two dams (Karmatani Lat and Thaddo Nadi) with limited storage/drainage capacity
Despite multiple research and feasibility studies an expansion of the existing dam infrastructure or new dam construction has not materialized

14. Solutions and Suggestions
Suggestion 1: K-IV project
K-IV is a 3 phase project that would ensure 650 mg/d water supply to the city of Karachi
The project starts from Keenjhar lake (Indus water), passes through Thatta and Northern Bypass and ends at Khairo Brohi Goth, spanning a 124 km
After extension in 2025, K-IV will be able to supply 1,430 mg/d of water enough to meet next 50 year demand

15. K-IV Project Part of Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme
Indus Water from Keenjhar Lake to Karachi City
Phase
Capacity
Completion
K-IV Phase-1
260 mg/d
Year 2018
K-IV Phase-2
Year 2022
K-IV Phase-3
130 mg/d
Year 2025
Total Cost
Rs billions

16. Suggestion - 2: DNI (Distribution Network Improvement)
Distribution network improvements such as the below should reduce water losses by approximately 30 – 35% (1/3 of current water supply or 180 mg/d of water
Restructuring of KWSB
Replacement of old cement distribution pipelines
Upgrading aging infrastructure and other complementary steps

17. Suggestion - 3: Water Costing and Billing System
Client-centric approach: no organization can receive service charges without buyer’s trust, moral authority and administrative autonomy
Filling the demand – supply gap, replacement of distribution lines and enhance service quality are key to winning customer’s trust
Administrative and financial autonomy necessary to recover bad debts and reduce arrears

18. Suggestion - 4: Consistence Power Supply on Pumping Stations
Frequent power breakdown and voltage fluctuation at KWSB installations is one of the major reasons for water shortage in the city
It is imperative to ensure uninterrupted water supply to the Dhabeji, Gharo and, other medium size water pumping stations
Two solutions:
Installation of own power generators at pumping stations by KWSB
K-Electric provides separate electricity lines to KWSB pumping stations to ensure that power breakdown and load shedding do not impact water supply

19. Suggestion - 5: RO (Reverse Osmosis) & Desalination Plant
Reverse osmosis to purify contaminated, sea or saline water can be used for domestic or industrial purposes
An average RO plant requires 6 kilowatt hours of power to desalinate 1 cubic meter of water (1,000 liters)
Government of Sindh planned to set up 2,200 RO plants in Thar and other rural areas but, so far, 740 medium-sized plants have been established
Desalination plants may or may not depend on RO technology and costs can be high: a large-scale desalination plant serving 300,000 people can cost $ 100 million
DHA’s desalination plant is a good example but adopting the technology more widely would require government support given high costs

20. Suggestion - 6: Small Dams on Malir River System
To protect the agricultural and residential lands in Malir, improving existing dams and construction of new ones is suggested
The Malir Development Authority (MDA) and its consults propose starting work immediately on:
Expansion of Karmani Lat Dam and Thaddo Nadi (steam)
Construction of new dam in Deh Lusan
Construction of new dam in Deh Bazar
Construction of new dam on Jarando Nallah
Stream Training work on Malir River System
It is estimated that water development works mentioned above are expected to cost around Rs. 530 million

21. Suggestion -7: Public Awareness
Public awareness of water importance is the demand of the day. The moot point of awareness campaigns can be presented directly or indirectly. Direct approach includes conventional public service messages on television, radio and newspaper. However it has been observed that people do not motivate through direct approach as they take it pedantic direction or plain plea
Therefore indirect awareness approach can prove more effective. It means to wrap your message in real life scenario, ground reality, or teasing question. Indirect approach can be applied on any genre, be it a public service message, news report, documentary, entertainment show, drama, theatre, social media trend, or schools’ summer camp theme

22. Thank You