Groundwater levels in Peshawar drop by 20 feet on average, some areas see decline of up to 35 feet, as per WSSP
JAVED KHAN
PESHAWAR
In a move to address the ongoing water shortage in Peshawar, the provincial government has announced plans to supply safe drinking water from the Mohmand Dam.
This decision, aimed at alleviating the city’s water crisis, is expected to receive approval in the upcoming cabinet meeting scheduled for April 10.
The water shortage issue in Peshawar was brought to the attention of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after multiple surveys conducted by the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP). These surveys highlighted the severe depletion of the city’s groundwater resources, caused by mismanagement and the effects of climate change.
The provincial cabinet is set to approve the construction of the necessary facilities and infrastructure to ensure a steady and safe supply of water from the Mohmand Dam Hydropower Project (MCHP), utilizing provincial resources.
The Public Health Engineering (PHE) department will oversee the implementation of the project, which aims to address the growing water demand in Peshawar.
A senior official from the PHE, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that water from the Mohmand Dam will be transported through pipelines and distributed to consumers via filtration plants.
Upon approval from the provincial cabinet, the project will likely be included in the upcoming Annual Development Program (ADP) schemes.
The initiative is expected to be a major step in resolving Peshawar’s ongoing water shortage and ensuring a sustainable supply of clean drinking water.
According to Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) currently, the entire population of Peshawar depends on groundwater sources for their domestic water needs, as there is no major surface water supply system in place.
Households rely on tube wells and boreholes for drinking, cooking, and daily activities.
However, the excessive extraction of groundwater has led to a rapid decline in water levels, threatening both the quality and long-term availability of the resource.
This situation is further exacerbated by climate change, as Peshawar faces extreme heatwaves, reduced rainfall, inadequate recharge facilities, and flash floods.
According to recent data from WSSP, groundwater levels in the city have dropped by an average of 20 feet, with some areas experiencing a maximum decline of up to 35 feet.
The findings, based on tube well development data (2016-2022) and electrical resistivity tests (2023-2024), highlight the urgent need for intervention.
As groundwater levels continue to decline, WSSP officials stress the importance of urgent, climate-resilient municipal projects to address the issue.
With the city’s population growing rapidly and water demand increasing, authorities warn that without immediate action, the drinking water crisis in Peshawar will only worsen.
The 2023 census statistics indicate that out of 690,976 households in the provincial capital, only 670,248 have access to improved drinking water, with a significant number relying on alternative water sources such as dug wells and filtration plants.
Officials have raised concerns that if the depletion of groundwater resources continues unchecked, it could severely impact water quality and availability for the city’s growing population.
WAPDA is currently constructing the Mohmand Dam across the Swat River, located approximately 5 km upstream of Munda Head Works in Mohmand Tribal District.
Once completed, the dam will stand as the fifth highest concrete-face rock-fill dam in the world. The project aims to enhance water storage and support regional development.
