Access to
safe drinking water is inadequate in Pakistan. Moreover public health
authorities have not been able to reduce the frequency of waterborne diseases
resulting from microbial disinfection. Empirical evidence shows that people
with sustainable access to quality drinking water is barely 25% (Nils, 2005).
According to the Pakistan Council of Research and Water Resources (PCRWR), water
related diseases form 40% of all reported illnesses. Further it is projected
that in Pakistan
diarrheal diseases alone cause the death of 200,000 children each year. Following
these estimations it is noted that 600 rural and urban poor suffer from different
ailments and water allied diseases daily due to bad quality/contaminated water.
On the contrary drinking water quality is deteriorating persistently as a
result of biological contamination i.e. human waste. On the contrary the
problem of water contamination is further exacerbated by chemical pollutants
from industries and agricultural inputs. The centralized distribution system for
drinking water through pipes and the drainage system (sewerage lines) lie very
close to each other hence any damage to either of the two results into water
flowing from one into the other consequentially contaminating the water. Open
drains in close vicinity of the drinking water pipelines also result in
contamination of water and cause many serious water borne diseases. In Pakistan 45% of
infant deaths are attributed to diarrhea and 60% to overall infectious
waterborne diseases. The Public Health System is over burdened with water borne
diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery and typhoid hence causing
considerable economic losses. In this context estimates show that only
diarrheal diseases are costing the country Rs. 55 to 84 billion annually.
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Published Date: Feb 1, 2011 