Contaminated water in Quetta
Editorial :
Much has been said and written about the issue of contaminated water in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. However, no government has taken it seriously to ensure the provision of clean drinking water to citizens of this mountain-ringed city.
Although, there is no specific data or survey about water-borne diseases in Quetta. However, medical experts term contaminated water as the underlying reason behind hepatitis, cholera, diarrhea, etc. Chief Minister Balochistan, Jam Kamal Khan has taken notice of the contaminated water in Quetta and directed the concerned quarters to discuss ways and means to address the issue. Indeed, the gravity of the situation demands a comprehensive strategy coupled with political commitment to address the issue of contaminated water.
Pakistan has the world’s fourth-highest consumption figures for water
Pakistan has the world’s fourth-highest consumption figures for water while its population is the fifth largest globally. Bad policies and environmentally damaging practices, such as the release of untreated industrial and domestic waste into water bodies, combined with changing rainfall patterns, have worsened water shortages in the country.
A recent report published in this daily portrays an alarming situation
A recent report of the Irrigation Department published by this daily indicates that the high rate of Coliform and E. Coli bacteria was found in the water of Quetta which signals contaminations in the drinking water that may affect human health and cause severe illness, as such gastrointestinal, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, muscle aches, and headache. However, anyone can get sick from drinking contaminated water but children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems are at a higher risk of the harmful effects.
Current analysis of water quality discloses that water in most of the areas of the Quetta is exclusively microbiologically contaminated. Whereas, other contaminations include, Nitrate, Turbidity, Arsenic, hardness, TDS, and other ions have been analyzed wherein, the Nitrate concentrations have been found higher than the prescribed WHO standards.
