RAWALPINDI: The Water and Sanitation Agency has prepared a comprehensive Rs50 billion project to supply 35 million gallons per day of treated water to Rawalpindi city and cantonment areas from the under construction Daducha Dam. The initiative aims to address chronic water shortages and ensure sustainable supply for the next 25 years.
WASA Managing Director Saleem Ashraf said the feasibility study for transporting water from Daducha Dam has been completed and the project will be forwarded to the Punjab government shortly for approval. The plan includes construction of a modern filtration plant at the dam site along with an extensive transmission and distribution network for urban and cantonment zones.
He explained that WASA has requested funding to allow simultaneous construction of the filtration plant and water supply lines alongside the dam project. This coordinated approach is intended to complete both components within a year and bring early relief to water stressed areas of Rawalpindi.
Under the proposal 35 MGD of surface water will be allocated equally to meet the growing demand of residential commercial and institutional consumers. Officials believe this supply will significantly reduce dependence on groundwater and improve water quality across the service area.
Daducha Dam with an estimated cost of Rs14 billion is being built upstream of the Ling River to store rainwater originating from the Murree and Kahuta hills. Located near Daducha village on Kahuta Road the dam is designed to enhance regional water security and support urban expansion.
At present WASA relies heavily on a mix of surface and groundwater sources. Rawal Dam supplies over 23 MGD while Khanpur Dam provides only six MGD due to low reservoir levels. More than 500 tubewells currently extract around 35 MGD which accounts for over 60 percent of total supply. Officials warn that groundwater recharge capacity has nearly exhausted making a shift to surface water essential to meet future demand and protect long term water sustainability in Rawalpindi.
