Rawalpindi is taking a major step to secure its future water needs with the launch of a Rs 43 million feasibility study aimed at bringing 35 million gallons of water per day (MGD) from the Daducha Dam.
The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has already kicked off the process, and officials expect the study to be completed within about two months.
WASA Managing Director Saleem Ashraf shared that a consultant has been hired to prepare the PC-I for the water supply scheme. This plan is about to outline how water will be delivered from the Daducha Dam to Rawalpindi and include the establishment of a filtration plant at the dam site to make certain clean drinking water reaches the city.
Existing Supply Under Pressure
Right now, Rawalpindi’s water needs are met through a combination of sources. Rawal Dam provides roughly 23 MGD, while Khanpur Dam contributes around 6 MGD. In addition, about 480 tube wells supply nearly 35 MGD of groundwater.
This means more than 60 percent of the city’s water comes from underground sources — a practice that officials keep on saying is no longer sustainable due to declining recharge levels.
Ashraf pointed out that Rawal Dam has already completed 56 years of its functional life. With the city’s population steadily growing, relying on aging infrastructure and depleting groundwater reserves poses a strenuous challenge. Daducha Dam, once operational as a supply source, will be central to meeting Rawalpindi’s long-term demand.
Read more: Work begins on new water pipeline from Chahan Dam to Rawalpindi
Benefits Beyond Water Supply
As per the officials, the new project will offer multiple advantages. Besides ensuring a steady water supply, it will help in reducing contamination risks, cutting down pumping costs and allowing the city’s groundwater levels to naturally recharge. This is especially important given the environmental stress that deep tube-well extraction has created.
The feasibility study will include the following things
- Land surveys
- Technical designs
- Environmental reviews
- Social impact assessments
- Land acquisition planning
It is going to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive project after completion, and it is intended to improve water security for Rawalpindi’s residents — especially low-income communities that suffer the most from shortages.
The Daducha Dam water supply project will play a role in transforming how the city manages one of its most critical resources.