ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to start water rationing from Thursday due to insufficient water reserves, a source told Dawn on Wednesday.

The source said the CDA had also squeezed water supply by 13 million gallon per day (MGD) on Wednesday. Now, 67 MGD is being supplied against the previous supply of 80MGD.

Despite the intermittent rains in the twin cities these days, the catchment areas of Simly Dam, the main source of water in Islamabad, did not receive adequate rains as a result of which water level of the dam could not go up as was being expected by the Authority, the source added.

Under the water rationing plan, water would be supplied on alternate days, the source added.

The source said due to recent rains, water level in Simly Dam increased by five feet and reached to 2,280 feet. However, it had declined to 2,275 feet against highest level of 2,305 feet.

As a result of sudden decline in water level in Simly Dam, the CDA was supplying 29MGD from Simly Dam against its normal supply of 42MGD.

Owing to low output of tubewells, the CDA is providing 24MGD water to the residents from its all tubewells against their expected production of 34 MGD.

The CDA is supplying 7.82MGD from augmentation scheme against its normal supply of 12MGD. Similarly, 9MGD is being supplied from Khanpur Dam instead of its maximum supply of 16.50 MGD.

The Authority is providing 1.25 MGD from Korang and 0.50 MGD is being supplied from Noorpur water supply scheme. “The water level in the Dam can further decrease if sufficient rains do not occur in the catchment areas.”

The CDA, the source said, was striving hard to ensure regular and sufficient supply of water to the residents.

Meanwhile, a CDA official said most of the people resorted to wastage of water by installing water pumps directly on main supply lines. He said defective water tabs and pumps, frequent car and terrace washing and watering of gardens and lawns also contributed in water scarcity.

He asked people to cooperate with the authority so as to conserve water.

Our Reporter adds: The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad received rain in the early hours of Wednesday, causing moderate flood in Leh Nullah.

Rain started at around 4am on Wednesday and lasted till 9am. According to Met officials, Islamabad received 28mm of rain while Rawalpindi, 24mm.

The Civil Defence department said the five-hour rain spell caused moderate flood in Leh and inundated low-lying localities in the neighbourhood of the Nullah. The affected localities are Chamanzar, parts of Mohanpura, Arjun Nagar, Nadeem Colony, Dhoke Ratta, Arya Mohallah, Sadiqabad and its adjoining localities, various sectors of Satellite Town, Dhoke Hassu and certain suburbs of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board.