Pindiites plan their daily life around availability of water

Irregular water supply is not just a seasonal issue for Rawalpindi families. City residents have water supply issues around the year, sometimes tube-wells have no electricity, and sometimes a mechanical fault.

“Rows of colorful plastic pots lined up and a group of women, and children waiting near different houses with bore-well water facilities has become defining images of Rawalpindi’s water crisis,” says Qalb-e-Haider.

“The water crisis we face is an all-seasonal issue and summer only worsens our living conditions. I start my day as early as 5 am. I cook for my family of five members, get my three children ready for school, and my husband for work. By around 9.30 am, I am out on the street carrying plastic pots on hearing the voices of the people going to the houses having bore-well water,” says Kalsoom.

“This is my routine on most days and my afternoons or evenings solely revolve around the same practice. This is an issue faced by many women across the city. It is yet to see a solution,” adds Kalsoom. “If we fail to get water for one day, then there will be no water for drinking, cooking, washing, or cleaning and it will create a mess in the family. There are times when we run out of water completely. On such days, I ask my husband to get water from a filtration plant because I cannot run a household without water,” says Sakina.”

“We do not have individual water connections for our households. We neither have bore-well water facilities. Houses with bore-well water facility being the only source of water, we solely depend on it,” says Kaneez Zainab.

“Sewage mixed with drinking water has been a major issue in most parts of the city as water supply pipes run along Nullahs. Six months ago, half a dozen of the residents in our locality suffered from diarrhea due to contaminated water. They recovered only after hospitalization. Our kids get sick easily. Therefore, we get water from a filtration plant now,” says Rubab Haider.

“We receive water supply at odd hours. The situation is perhaps worse for the residents of colonies located on the outskirts of the city. When residents within the city stage a protest seeking adequate water supply, the officials do something to supply water for the time being at least. However, when residents of suburbs stage a protest, they are left in limbo,” says Hijab-e-Zahra.

Ummul Banin says, “There is no likelihood of any scarcity of water this season and the supply chains are working as usual. Speaking on the issue of contaminated water, officials say we will address it as and when we receive public complaints. However, they did not offer any comments on the issues faced by residents who do not get regular supply.”