ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: Faulty distribution system is a major source of water contamination in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the chairman, Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), Dr Akram Kahloon, told Dawn.

“Leakage of water and sewerage pipes and contaminated local storage tanks make water unsafe for human consumption”, he said.

Water samples collected from Noorpur Shahan, which is the first distribution point after treatment from Simly Dam, were found free of bacterial contamination. Similarly, the samples taken from the CDA’s seven million gallon reservoir were found fit for human consumption. This implied that the basic problem was within the distribution system, he said.

One of the major pollutants in Rawalpindi and Islamabad was lead, the chairman said, adding, its main sources were paints, lead pipes, waste of batteries-manufacturing industry and leaded gasoline.

This particular type of contamination can cause mental retardation, anaemia, lethargy, irritability, liver and kidney diseases, besides abnormalities in fertility, he added.

The results of water samples analyzed by the PCRWR revealed that the level of lead in the ground water samples was lower than that found in surface water samples.

Dr Kahloon recommended use of lead-free gasoline for vehicles in the country, particularly in twin cities. The people should be encouraged to periodically clean all domestic underground and overhead tanks in their houses.

He urged the water supply agencies like CDA and Wasa to ensure supply of clean water to the citizens. He added that the treatment techniques like chlorination, adequate contact time, proper pH level and reducing turbidity of water must be applied.

Moreover, use of lead pipes or adhesive compounds for connecting water lines should be discouraged. Therefore, strict quality control in the manufacturing of pipes must be ensured. Substandard chemicals used in water treatment may produce different kinds of contamination .

The chairman said no water supply scheme should be approved unless detailed investigation of water quality, quantity and sustainability had been carried out.

For effective awareness through educational institutions, and mass media should be launched about the importance of water quality among users, he stressed.