[Jhelum - Optimization of existing sewerage and drainage system and installation of wastewater treatment systems]

▷Description

Being at the foothills of the Salt range, most of groundwater in district Jhelum is saline. The drinking water to the local community is being provided through installation of tube wells at the bank of River Jhelum and small springs originating from the Salt range. There is acute shortage of drinking water in the area. The area lying between river Jhelum and Salt range is comprised of virgin land. The groundwater and discharge brought by hill torrents are saline, therefore irrigation is being practiced just on edge of river Jhelum, whilst remaining area of about 160,000 acres is deprived of any irrigation supply. Therefore, farmers are mainly practicing rainfed agriculture.

The water quality in district Jhelum is facing severe challenges due to untreated disposal of domestic wastewater. In most of the tehsils of district Jhelum wastewater is flowing openly or in open small drains which are not connected to any main drain. As a result, proper sewerage collection system is not in place. Moreover, solid waste like plastic bags blocks the sewer lines.

The wastewater without any treatment is either used for irrigation or dumped into the local ponds or into Jhelum river. The wastewater discharges from human activities in various tehsils of Jhelum has not only caused fouling, problems for pedestrian’s movements but also resulted in waterborne and vector-based diseases.

The wastewater mixing in surface water and seepage into the groundwater is also deteriorating the water quality in various areas due to higher load of microbial and nitrate contamination. If the untreated municipal waste is allowed to be continuously dumped into soil and water bodies specifically the river Jhelum; this may result into serious public health and ecological threats in the near future.

▷Scale

Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) conducted a detailed study on groundwater assessment and quality of the area. The study shows that fresh water supply is scarce and vulnerable in terms of its availability, quantity and quality. There is only a shallow and small fresh groundwater pocket existing near Jalalpur village, whereas the groundwater of the remaining tehsil is highly saline and unacceptable for drinking.

PCRWR also conducted a detailed investigation during 2019-20 to elucidate the wastewater impacts and treatments needs analysis in the district. Accordingly, Pind Dadan Khan, Sohawa and Dina tehsils of Jhelum district have shown a grave situation with respect to wastewater pollution and lack of sewerage collection and treatment system.

▷Key specs

The water and wastewater treatment is important before the health and hygiene of the people living in these areas suffer further. To achieve the SDG 6 Target 6.3, at least 50% of the produced wastewater needs to be treated by 2030. Thus, the approach of recycling, reduce and reuse of wastewater should be introduced for safe and environmentally sustainable way of wastewater utilization.

1. Optimization of existing sewerage and drainage system: Proper sewerage and drainage system including sewage collection should be placed in all the urban and rural areas of district Jhelum.

2. Installation of wastewater treatment systems: The wastewater treatment using appropriate site specific treatment methods such as constructed wetlands using bioremediation, bio-cleaner, sewage treatment plant etc. should be introduced with defined modalities for sustainable operation.

3. Capacity Building: To help the local communities to have access to safe water quality, the capacity of Public Health Engineering Department, Tehsil Municipal administration and village water committees/associations should be enhanced for disinfection of drinking water sources and water storage bodies as well as regular water quality monitoring.

▷Additional info

If needed detailed technical reports of Jhelum city may be downloaded from the webpage of Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (www.pcrwr.gov.pk)