When we were kids, we were taught in our geography classes that one-quarter of the Earth was land and the remaining three-quarters were all water. We were also taught that our fresh water comes from rain, huge icy glaciers and groundwater. This is a fact that we have learned over and over again. So, now, when we come across headlines that claim that the world will run out of water, it may seem quite confusing as to how that can be possible if most of the planet consists of water.

Well…of all the water on Earth, more than 97 per cent of Earth’s water is unusable by humans and many other living things – only about 3 per cent of Earth’s water is freshwater. Of that, only about 1.2 per cent can be used as drinking water; the rest is locked up in glaciers, ice caps, and permafrost, or buried deep in the ground (which is around 30 per cent of the world’s fresh water).

According to a report published by WaterAid in 2019, Pakistan has the fourth largest groundwater aquifer over 1,137,819 square km – making it slightly larger than England. Across Pakistan, the groundwater contribution is estimated to be 60 per cent for the agriculture sector, 90 per cent for the drinking water and 100 per cent usage in industry. Pakistan is the third largest consumer of groundwater ending up making the Indus Basin aquifer the second most ‘overstressed’ groundwater basin in the world.

Talking to Tofiq Pasha Mooraj, renowned Horticulturist and environmental activist, he believes that the common people have started feeling the impact of it [climate change] in the past five years, whereas those knowledgeable have known it since around the ’80s, when rainfall started to lessen in Karachi. “In the late ’80 –’90s, we noticed some water shortage. After some time, we observed that water in the wells began to rise and it was getting brackish,” tells Pasha. “The rainfalls had reduced in the ’80s so why was the water in the wells rising? You see, fresh water always flows downstream, which means it goes towards the sea. The freshwater pushes the sea water into its territory. But when there is no more freshwater coming in the rivers and eventually the sea, there is no more push back; the sea water then starts coming in... contaminating the freshwater which we use. Similarly, Badin and Thatta are severely affected by this. KT Bandar has moved back almost three times.”

An aquifer is a body of rock and/or sediment that holds groundwater and it is usually formed after water is absorbed into the ground through a body of water that exists on the surface. If we talk about Karachi, its surface drainage can be divided into four parts including Malir River Basin, Lyari River Basin, Budnai Basin, and Coastal Basin. However, according to the hydrogeology of the city, Karachi lies in the Malir River basin. In the west, it is surrounded by River Hub while in the east River Malir exists. River Malir, followed by Lyari channel drains the Malir basin. Both channels are transient; therefore, sewage and industrial effluent generally flow in it. River Hub is also transient but lacks wastewater contamination. Rivers Malir and Lyari are mainly responsible for recharging the coastal aquifers of Karachi. River Hub is recharging limited aquifers of Nari and Gaj. Furthermore, Rivers Malir and Lyari basins are the two main basins which drain about 80 per cent of the surface runoff of the city. Along the banks of the rivers, crowded slum settlements and some industries exist. Because of rainstorms, the periodic threat of floods looms over Karachi particularly along the banks of these rivers. The confluence of Rivers Mol and Khadeji forms the River Malir whose catchment lies in Karachi. Similarly, River Lyari is drained by Gujjar nullah and Orangi nullah. Both these rivers eventually fall into the Arabian Sea. In rainy seasons, River Malir experiences high flow which has the potential to be stored and utilised later.

However, if we look at these nullahs, such as Nehr-e-Khayyam which stews filth and garbage, possess a pungent and horrid smell, it’s hard to imagine a time when freshwater would be flowing in it, which would eventually be used to recharge the aquifers underneath. Which brings us to an alarming realisation that now contaminated water would be entering these aquifers.

“In the last 20 years, in the absence of power, sewage and the population have more than doubled and pollutants are constantly seeping into the waterway. The small rivers or the nehrs that exist in Karachi used to have freshwater flowing during heavy rainfalls. They would flow for a short period of time, about three or four days until it was absorbed into the ground through the silt and recharged the aquifers. Now, these nullahs are standing all year round full of sewerage water with different soluble and insoluble pollutants seeping into the ground,” laments Pasha.

Last year, Sindh Chief Minister gave his consent for signing an agreement with a private party for the development of Clifton’s Nehr-e-Khayyam. He said that this would be “a gift to the people of Karachi and it would be for families to have a picnic and enjoy sailing in boats”. However, this plan is merely on paper and it is yet to see some action.

Talking about the areas of Sindh and how it is adapting to shortage of water, Pasha shares that the terrain of the province is desert-like. He adds that the indigenous animals in the province are cattle, which consumes a lot of water. “Sindh’s deserts are mostly populated by nomads who migrated to certain areas where there was some vegetation. Moreover, for these people, their wealth is their cattle. So, when the population of people increases so does the cattle; and eventually they need access to more water, which is already a scarce resource. We have NGOs that will install solar pumps to extract water for them, but in the long-run those aquifers will dry out unless they are replenished.”

Pasha further alerts that dams are detrimental to the whole ecology. While dams are used to store water but when you put a dam on the river, it reduces the amount of freshwater that reaches the Indus Delta - which is 10 times less than its original size today. “These dams have a short lifespan (around 60-70 years). Dam construction have significantly reduced river flows, causing the delta to shrink, and threatening both human life and its ecology. The absence of flowing freshwater allows seawater into the delta, destroying the soil and the aquifers, making it unfit for humans, animals or crops.”

Another growing trend that has potentially put groundwater in danger is the supply of bottled water in homes. According to Enviornmental Lawyer Rafay Alam, one of the results of the riparian water law regime created by the Easements Act, 1880, is that groundwater may be claimed by the owner of the land above it. They can use the water as they please if that water body exists within the limits of their land and is not flowing in a defined path. “Big corporations have bought huge chunks of land that were rich in water, and they are now extracting water from these aquifers and earning a handsome profit by selling bottled water. And the law cannot do anything about it.”

He further shares that while 90 per cent of the water is utilised in agriculture, one of the biggest issues of water scarcity comes from the type of crops that are planted in the country. “We are an agrarian country and most of the crops that we plant are sugar, rice, cotton which requires the most water to grow. Moreover, the consumption of poultry has increased over the years and that is also something that requires a lot of water. It takes about 15000 litres of water to produce a kilogram of beef. The only way we can secure this resource is if there is sensible government intervention rather than mismanagement.”

However, all hope is not lost. For the first time in history, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has managed to stop depletion of underground water aquifer by taking effective measures to stop unnecessary use of groundwater. Since 1960, underground water was depleting by one metre per year which means underground water was going down by 3.37 foot per year. In 1960, the minimum level of underground water level was 5.7 metres and maximum was 15.695 metres whereas in 2018 the minimum level was 23.500 metres and the maximum level was 50.150 metres. In 2019, the minimum level of underground water aquifer improved slightly as it came to 23 metres whereas the maximum level also improved a little and stayed at 50 metres. Similarly, in 2020 the minimum level and maximum level remained at 23 metres and 50 metres, respectively.

In an interview, Wasa Managing Director Syed Zahid Aziz shared some measures that were taken by the authority under the guidance of the Punjab government. They introduced a licensing system and imposition of aquifer charges, which reduced the use of excessive water pumping by tube-wells in the private sector. They began recycling car washing water at 310 service stations in Lahore and heavy fines were imposed on the car washing units that didn’t install water recycling plants. Presently, every car wash unit in Lahore has its own water recycling plant and Inspetions are carried out randomly. They are also reusing ablution water at 200 mosques. The water is transferred to nearby parks for gardening purposes due to which the water pumping by Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) reduced significantly. The MD also added that fines on water wastage due to ramp washing and car washing through pipes in residential, commercial and industrial areas were also imposed.

“There are countries that have taken initiatives, such as rainwater harvesting, to protect their groundwater reserves. On my farms, I try to harvest all the water during rainfalls and I let it absorb into the ground to recharge the aquifers. The land size of cities like Karachi and Lahore are the same, it’s just that there is not much land left to drain the water into the ground. Intervention by the authorities can make a difference, like they did in Lahore,” enthuses Pasha.

Ways to protect and conserve groundwater

Go Native: Use native plants in your landscape. They look great, and don’t need much water or fertiliser. Also choose grass varieties for your lawn that are adapted for your region’s climate, reducing the need for extensive watering or chemical applications.

Reduce chemical use: Use fewer chemicals around your home and yard, and make sure to dispose of them properly – don’t dump them on the ground!

Manage waste: Properly dispose of potentially toxic substances like unused chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paint, motor oil, and other substances. Many communities hold household hazardous waste collections or sites - contact your local health department to find one near you.

Don’t let it run: Shut off the water when you brush your teeth or shaving, and don't let it run while waiting for it to get cold. Keep a pitcher of cold water in the fridge instead.

Fix the drip: Check all the faucets, fixtures, toilets, and taps in your home for leaks and fix them right away, or install water conserving models.

Wash smarter: Limit yourself to just a five minute shower, and challenge your family members to do the same! Also, make sure to only run full loads in the dish and clothes washer.

Water wisely: Water the lawn and plants during the coolest parts of the day and only when they truly need it. Make sure you, your family, and your neighbours obey any watering restrictions during dry periods.

Reduce, Reuse & Recycle: Reduce the amount of ‘stuff’ you use and reuse what you can. Recycle paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, aluminium and other materials.

Natural alternatives: Use all natural/nontoxic household cleaners whenever possible. Materials such as lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar make great cleaning products, are inexpensive, and environmentally-friendly.

Learn and do more: Get involved in water education! Learn more about groundwater and share your knowledge with others.

Raise your voice: Call out the authorities to take action on the matter and making policies that protect this valuable resource.