Web desk: Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is facing a serious water and sanitation crisis. A large portion of drinking water is found to be contaminated.
Experts say that nearly 84 per cent of the city’s water supply is affected by various types of pollution. This has raised concerns over the spread of waterborne diseases, including polio.
Peshawar water crisis
A recent UNICEF survey shows that around 400,000 people in Peshawar still lack basic toilet facilities.
The survey revealed that 9.5 per cent of the city’s population does not have access to proper sanitation. This leads to unhygienic practices such as open defecation.
Rapid population growth is making the crisis worse. Peshawar’s population has now exceeded 2.4 million. With an annual growth rate of 2.86 per cent.
This increase has put immense pressure on the already weak water and sanitation systems.
The survey also found that while water availability is generally adequate.
Which is 79.6 per cent of areas have sufficient supply, and 83.4 per cent of homes have water.
The main problem is water quality.
Only 20 per cent of water sources are considered safe for drinking. While about 80 per cent are contaminated.
E. coli contamination is widespread, affecting 13.6 per cent of water sources.
Rural areas show contamination at 12.9 per cent, while urban areas face a higher rate of 17.5 per cent.
Only 13.6 per cent of water samples were completely free of E. coli bacteria.
Groundwater levels are also falling alarmingly. According to the 2020 KP census, the average water table has dropped to 188 feet.
Chemical contamination is another major concern.
Survey results showed 13.8 per cent of water samples contained nitrates, 1.2 per cent fluoride, 3.3 per cent iron, and 14.6 per cent hardness (calcium carbonate).
Long-term consumption of such water can seriously affect human health.
