Download KARACHI

KARACHI
WATER
DISTRIBUTION
Problems and Solutions
By
Seema Tahir A. Khan
CEO Airwaves Media Pvt. Ltd.
September 2015
CONTENT
Part-I
Existing Condition and Problems
Introduction
About Karachi
About KWSB
I-A) Existing Water Sources of Karachi
Indus Water
Other Sources
Hub Dam
Ground Water
Desalination of Sea Water
Reuse of Treated Effluents
Total Water Supply by KWSB
I-B) Distribution Network
Water Trunk Mains
Distribution and Suction Pumps
Water Losses in Distribution Network
Role of Water Tankers
I-C) Financial Management and Recovery
Summary of Problems faced by KWSB
Part-II
Solutions and Suggestions
II-A) Primary Solutions
Solution-1:
K-IV Project
Solution-2:
DNI (Distribution Network Improvement)
Solution-3
Water Costing and Billing System
II-B) Secondary Solutions
Solution-4
Consistence Power Supply on Pumping Stations
Solution-5
RO (Reverse Osmosis) & Desalination Plant
Solution-6
Public Awareness
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 paper 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.
Part I
Existing Condition and Problems
About Karachi
Karachi is the largest city of Pakistan and provincial capital of Sindh with an
estimated population of 22 million. Having one of the highest growth rates in the
country, Karachi is fast becoming a water-starved city, due to ever increasing
population, demand and supply gap, new development projects and a lack of
enhanced water supply sources and distribution to its inhabitants.
About KWSB
Karachi Water and Sewerage Board is primarily responsible for the development and
regulation of water supply and collection and disposal of sewage in the Karachi city.
After independence, the “Karachi Joint Water Board” was constituted in 1953 which
was responsible for the first major expansion of water supply system from the Indus
River. From 1957 onwards, the Karachi Development Authority assumed the
responsibility of the bulk water supply, and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation
was given the responsibility to distribute water and manage sewerage. The “Karachi
Water and Sewerage Board” Act was enacted in 1996, hence separating KWSB from
KMC and placed it under the government of Sindh as an autonomous body. During
2001 to 2008, KWSB was managed by the EDO Water & Sanitation of CDGK (City
District Government Karachi). From 2008 to date KWSB is working as an
autonomous body under government of Sindh.
A) Existing Water Sources of Karachi
The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) is supplying water through the
Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply (GKBWS), K-II, K-III and other schemes to
Karachi. The K-II project was completed in 1998 with the assistance of World Bank.
This project supplies 100 to 120 mg/d (million gallons per day) water to Karachi. KIII project was completed in 2006 with the assistance of Government of Pakistan. It
has been providing an additional 100 mg/d (million gallons per day) to the city.
Almost all these existing water supply projects are hinged upon Indus water, or its
subsidiary sources.
Indus Water
The Indus River System Authority (IRSA) is responsible for the implementation of
the 1991 Water Appointment Accord. Kotri Barrage, KB Feeder and Kinjhar Lake are
maintained by the Irrigation Department of Government of Sindh. The existing
quota for the KWSB from the Indus River is 1200 cusec (645 mg/g i.e. 645 million
gallon per day).
For the last ten years KWSB is supplying approximately 550 to 580 mg/d (million
gallons per day) of Indus water to Karachi through various schemes.
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
Other Sources
Although Karachi mainly relies on River Indus for water, it also gets a small portion
from other sources.
Hub Dam
Hub Dam is a multipurpose dam constructed on the River Hub approximately 50
kilometers north-west of Karachi. The catchment area of the dam extends across two
provinces (Balochistan and Sindh), covering a total area of 3,410 square miles (8,730
km2). However, the availability and reliability of the Hub Dam is significantly smaller
than the demand of water in Karachi. In the past, a research study based on 18 years
data shows that the Hub Dam can at the most supply 75 mg/d water at 95% level of
reliability.
Ground Water
Geographically located at the coast of Arabian Sea, Karachi has a meager amount of
fresh ground water. Two field research works (1985 McDonalds & Partners; and
2004 KWSB Feasibility Study) concluded that ground water is not a reliable source
for Karachi. According to the said studies, since precipitation and ground water
recharge are little in Karachi, the sustainable yield of ground water is already in
balance with the existing pump discharge from about 1000 existing wells and it is
difficult to develop new wells. In 2008 a report by JICA (Japan International
Cooperation Agency) also suggested that the capacity of ground water resources in
Karachi was so small that it could barely meet the present level of withdrawal. In
fact, it is recommended that stringent controls should be put in place on the
construction of new wells in order to maintain the current ground water balance in
Karachi.
Desalination of Sea Water
Given the very high capital, installation and operational costs of desalination plants
the sea water does not appear a feasible source for Karachi. However, desalination
plants can be a solution for few isolated bulk water consumers (for instance, KPT,
Port Qasim, Steel Mills or similar mega industries) where revenue from selling
desalination water could cover its incurring costs. Few years ago Sindh government
installed desalination plants in Lyari. However, they are either incomplete or not
functional.
Reuse of Treated Effluents
Treated effluent can be used for various purposes such as watering plants, parks,
roadside grass, irrigation and some industrial use. And it has been used by few
governmental, non-governmental and autonomous bodies, for instance, Steel Mills,
PAF golf course, KMC, and Sindh government’s Works and Services Department.
However, to produce and supply water from treated effluent on large scale is not
immediately possible for KWSB, mainly because of financial and technical
constraints.
Total Water Supply by KWSB
The present water supply system of Karachi has a bulk water supply capacity of 600
mg/d as shown in the table below. This figure does not include the bulk supply of
water from Gujjo Headworks to Steel Mills and Port Qasim, which have their own
bulk water transmission facilities (canals, filtration plants, and pumping stations).
Total Water Supply to Karachi
Bulk Water System
Capacity
Present Supply
GK System
Haleji System
K-II System
K-III System
Dumlotee Wells
Hub System
Total
280 mg/d
20 mg/d
100 mg/d
100 mg/d
20 mg/d
80 mg/d
600 mg/d
300 mg/d
30 mg/d
120 mg/d
100 mg/d
0 mg/d
0 mg/d
550 mg/d*
* The present water supply to Karachi is merely 550 mg/d, while demand is
approximately 1,100 mg/d. Put simply there is a 50% gap between demand and
supply. Unfortunately 550 mg/d could not reach to domestic users on account of
frequent power breakdown at KWSB pumping stations and distribution losses.
Power breakdown at KWSB pumping stations, especially during summer, leads to
water shortage of approximately 100 mg/d.
B) Distribution
Water Trunk Mains
Karachi water trunk mains consist of approximately 400 kilometer (exactly 405, 163
m) with diameter ranging from 12 inches to 84 inches. Main material of the water
trunk mains is ‘pre-stressed cement’ concrete (PRCC), which is about 80% of the
total length.
The network of (tertiary) distribution pipeline consists over 4850 kilometers. About
70% of the existing distribution pipelines are made of asbestos cement. The CDGK
(City District Government Karachi) and Sindh Government’s Tameer-e-Karachi
Program planned and tried to replace the out dated pipelines with newer ones, but
implementation could not take place due to several issues, mainly financial
constraints.
Distribution and Suction Pumps
Because of difference in the land elevation between reservoir and the end user, and
inappropriate distribution lines, water cannot reach the end user merely through
gravity. As a solution, 139 distribution pumping stations were installed and are being
operated and managed by the KWSB.
In order to meet the water requirements most of the water scarce consumers install
small domestic suction pumps which suck water from distribution pipes forcibly. In
the absence of water supply, pressure of these suction pumps deteriorate and damage
the distribution lines. Resultantly, water crisis emerges frequently. In addition,
contaminated sewer drains into water distribution lines, since water supply and
sewer lines are installed side by side, especially in congested neighborhoods.
Water Losses in Distribution Network
KWSB estimates that water losses in the distribution network vary from 30% to 35%.
Deteriorating of existing pipes is one of the main reasons of water leakage at the
connection parts of pipelines. In addition, illegal water connections are also
responsible for water losses.
Role of Water Tankers
Water Tankers service was initially introduced by KWSB for the suburbs and remote
areas of Karachi having no distribution pipelines. Later, this facility was extended to
homes and workplaces of government and designated officers within city, provided
they were facing abrupt shortage of water supply. With the decreasing supply and
increasing demand, illegal water hydrants emerged in the city. Until 2013, illegal
water hydrants turned into hundreds. Almost all illegal water hydrants steal water by
cutting KWSB main and/or subsidiary distribution lines. Hundreds of illegal water
hydrant structures in Manghopir, Qasba, Korani and Malir area were seized or
demolished by government of Sindh in 2014. On June 11, 2015, MD KWSB answered
to Supreme Court Karachi registry that at least 200 illegal hydrants demolished for
last one year. Despite, few illegal hydrants are still functional.
Contrary to common perception, water supply from tankers covers a small
proportion. According to independent source water takers supply around 5%, while
as per KWSB it is just 3%. This estimate is concluded through the total number of
registered water taker vehicles in the city and their capacity to carry water.
C) Financial Management and Recovery
KWSB has major problem in its revenue collection system with poor billing recovery
and mounting arrears.
Historically, KWSB has been charged very low water tariff. Despite, customers
(especially retain residential customers) do not pay monthly bill. Approximately 0.3
million customers pay their month water bills, that accounts just 10% of total
registered and non-registered customers.
KWSB no more rely on water meters because there is not enough endowment to
install them. On top of that the power supply is not consistent enough to run meter
anyway. In the absence of water meter, KWSB charges water cost according to size of
property plot, especially for domestic retail users. These domestic users make a
major slice of total KWSB customers.
KWSB Water Tariff
from July 2015 to date
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
Rs. 222 per 1000 gallons / month
Besides, meager water tariff, KWSB is facing following problems on financial
management front:
(1) Too small operating revenue: The huge deficit mainly comes from meager
operating revenue. Annually, the revenue covers only a half of total expenditure.
(2) Too large operating revenue: It is increasing year by year. In fact, the total
expenditure including non-operating expenditure reached more than double of the
total revenue.
(3) Excessive amount receivable: KWSB has huge account receivable at present. As of
2015 KWSB owes Rs. 24 billions, just from federal and provincial ministries and
governmental departments. Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Production, Ministry of
Port and Shipping, and K-Electric are major debtor of KWSB.
Summary of Problems faced by KWSB
Major
Problems
Poor conditions
of water
distribution
system
Symptoms
Consequences
o Intermitted water supply
o Customers’ distrust
in KWSB provides
o High level of leakage
o Low system pressure
o Contamination
o Reluctance of
customers to pay
for the services
o Insufficient
o Inequitable distribution
Lack of
autonomy
o High level of receivables and
bad debt
o Tanker supplies
o Illegal connections
o Low tariffs
Weak financial
capacity
o Delay in capital replacement
o Delay in system expansion
o Poor current maintenance
o Poor working environment
(offices and equipment)
o Main reliance on govt. funding
Absence of
measured
supplies and
volumetric
charging system
o Absence of system input
metering and retail supply
metering
o No incentives for efficient use
of water
o No boundary of responsibilities
for maintenance of connections
o No means to estimate leakage
and non-revenue water
o Negates the issue of illegal
connections at retail level
Source: JICA Report 2008
revenues
o Financial
mismanagement,
and insufficient
revenues
o Low morale of
KWSB staff
o Deteriorating
services
o Deteriorating assets
o Low morale of
KWSB staff
o Political
interference
o No control of water
supply system
o Misuse and wastage
of water
o Leakage, nonrevenue water, and
illegal connections
(again)
Part II
Solutions and Suggestions
Numerous suggestions and proposals have been advocated from experts, engineers,
researchers, government and non-governmental organizations. In our view, two
primary steps are inevitable: K-IV water supply project, and distribution network
improvement (DNI).
Solution-1: K-IV Project
K-IV is a mega water supply project, and part of Greater Karachi Water Supply
Scheme. This is the most economical and technically viable solution to water
shortage problem faced by Karachi. Completion of its three phases would ensure 650
mg/d (1200 cusecs) water supply to Karachi city. After extension in year 2025, K-IV
can supply up to 1,430 mg/d water which would be enough to meet next 50 year
demand.
The 124 kilometer long K-IV project starts from the Keenjhar Lake (Indus water),
passes through Thatta and Northern Bypass, and ends at Khairo Brohi Goth (near
North Karachi). The proposed route of K-IV project is mostly gravity-based and
required the least pumping.
K-IV was conceived and planned in 2005-06, but implementation could not start
before 2015 on account of funding issue between federal and provincial governments.
In 2005, the total project cost was estimated at Rs. 18.7 billion. During these 9 years,
the cost of the project peaked to Rs. 25.5 billions. In 2015, federal government and
Sindh government agreed to finance the project by 50-50 percent.
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
260 mg/d
Year 2022
K-IV Phase-3
130 mg/d
Year 2025
Total Cost
Rs. 25.5 billions
After approval of ECNEC and budget allocation, the ground breaking ceremony of 1st
Phase of K-IV happened in July 2015. K-IV Phase-1 (of 260 mg/d capacity) would be
completed in three years (hopefully by the end of 2018). Next in line, K-IV Phase-2 of
260 mg/d would be completed by June 2022, and the Phase-3 of 130 mg/d to be
completed by the end of year 2025.
Solution-2: DNI (Distribution Network Improvement)
DNI is a broad term that covers (a) restructuring of KWSB, (b) replacement of old
cement distribution pipelines, and (c) upgrading aging infrastructure and other
complementary steps.
Various research studies and reports propose that existing KWSB structure and
distribution system should be decentralized. Water supply, management and revenue
collection role of KWSB can be sub-divided either on the basis of Districts level, or
Zone level, or erstwhile Town level. Moreover, different distribution lines should be
used for retail domestic, commercial, industrial and bulk customers.
Restructuring and decentralizing of KWSB, and introduction and installation of
quality pipe material which comply with international accepted standard, according
to plan are inevitable. These steps would greatly help to maintain supply pressure,
enhance poor revenue collection, and ensure safer and non-contaminated water.
Without introducing or replacing old cement distribution lines, water meter system
cannot function successfully. Implementing on DNI would also substantially reduce
the indirect costs of buying water tanker, domestic suction pumps, roof-top storage
tanks, water filters, as well as electricity charges.
In addition, following DNI would help to reduce water losses that amount
approximately 30% to 35%. That is one-third of present water supply, equals to 180
to 200 million gallons water per day. As mentioned earlier (in Part-I), water losses
include leakages, seepage, illegal connection, stealing and occasional burst of
distribution pipelines. Easy to temper, deteriorating, broken, unplanned and nonregulated old cement pipelines are main cause of said above water lose.
DNI is a major step and cannot be done overnight. Like K-IV project, it would take
around 10 years to be implemented. On completion of DNI, the newer distribution
network will replace the existing system completely.
Solution-3 Water Costing and Billing System
KWSB costs and bills water to all customers, but on paper and computer. The
ground reality is entirely different. Despite very meager tariff, a great number of
retail domestic users are highly reluctant to pay amount against supplied water. Only
10% customers pay their bills. Unlike other utility bills, water bills do not reach at the
doorstep of customers,
As a whole, customers have a very negative impression about services provided by
KWSB. With the increasing shortage of water supply in recent years, the condition
has turned rather worse. Practically, it is very difficult for KWSB to disconnect water
supply, if he/she does not pay bill.
No organization can receive service charges without having buyer’s trust, moral
authority, and administrative autonomy. Without filling demand-supply gap,
replacing distributing lines and enhancing service quality, it is hard to win
customers’ trust. And without decentralizing KWSB, and making it autonomous –
administratively and financially, it is impossible to recover bad debt and arrears.
Solution-4 Consistence Power Supply on Pumping Stations
The frequent power breakdowns and invariable voltage fluctuation at the KWSB
installations, especially at the main pumping station, is one of the major reasons for
water crisis in the metropolis.
It is necessary to ensure uninterrupted power supply at Dhabeji, Gharo, and dozens
of other medium-sized water pumping stations, spreading across the city. There are
two possible solutions to this problem. First, KWSB installs its own power generator
at pumping stations. And second, K-Electric provides separates electricity lines for
pumping stations, so that power breakdown and load-shedding could not suffer
water supply.
Solution-5 RO (Reverse Osmosis) & Desalination Plant
RO plant is a Reverse Osmosis plant that purifies contaminated, saline or sea water.
It can be used for small or large scale domestic, commercial and industrial purposes.
RO plant may serve a solution for small locality, despite the fact installing and
operating RO plants pose some hurdles and disadvantages. First of all, it asks for
high capital cost. Secondly RO plant needs uninterrupted power supply. An average
modern reverse osmosis plant needs 6 kilowatt-hours of electricity to desalinate 1
cubic meter of water (1000 liter water).
Government of Sindh planned to install 2,200 RO plants in order to cope with water
shortage and contaminated water problem, especially in Thar and other deprived
areas. However, only 740 medium-sized RO could be installed. At present their
operational capacity is just 9% to 14%. Besides rural areas, 20 RO plants were
installed in Karachi (Lyari and Kimari Town). But almost all of them are
dysfunctional. In other words, government of Sindh had a failed experience probably
on account of malpractice, corruption, and lack of technical capability.
Desalination plant may or may not depend on RO (Reverse Osmosis) technology. The
first desalination plant in Pakistan, based on Reverse Osmosis, was installed in 1987
in Saindak Copper Mines in Balochistan. Another desalination plant was installed in
1996 at HUBCO power station near Karachi. Then KANUPP near Karachi installed a
Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant to meet its operating
requirements. In 2008, DHA started a desalination and power plant with the
technical aid of Sacoden Investments Singapore and Siemens AG Germany. It was
the first project of its kind in Pakistan that desalinates sea water for domestic
consumption, besides having capacity of generating 94 mega watts electricity.
The cost of water desalination has many variables including the chemistry of the
water, the point to delivery, and the treatment being used. A large scale desalination
plant serving 300,000 (0.3 million) people may cost around US$100 million (more
than Rs. 10 billion). The costs of infrastructure and distribution must be added to
this.
Solution-6 Public Awareness
Public awareness of water importance is necessary and demand of day. Conservation
is a cost-effective means of securing future water supplies.
Last year, KWSB launched a SMS campaign to enhance low recovery trend. The SMS,
forwarded to 200,000 people, said, “Have you ever wondered if you’ve paid for the
water you are using to perform Wuzu?” In the context of typical religion-driver
Pakistani society, this text produces good impact.
* * * The End * * *