ISLAMABAD, May 10: Experts predict that the city’s water shortage problem is going to worsen, not for want of water but for want of sense.

“If we don’t decide today how to conserve water, tomorrow our taps might run dry,” experts in the Ministry of Environment warn, pointing out that half of Islamabad is already on tankers.

There exists no equation between water availability and use, they say.

“Do we have an equation how water is used? Have local authorities carried out citywide water audits?” a source in the ministry asked.

“We fear more than 50 per cent of the water put in the distribution system is lost due to leakage. What the CDA is doing to plug these leakages and save millions of gallons of water?”

“CDA has no idea how water table is dropping because of the numerous private tube wells – tube wells in Naval Colony is just one example. How does Air Force and Islamabad Club irrigate their golf courses? Once, the Margallas fed almost the entire city.

Today, streams have disappeared. Sewerage water contaminates ones that have survived. There should be fines on wasting this precious source at car washes, for tank overflows at homes, and gardening etc.,” fumes Helga Ahmed, an environmentalist.

When demand is increasing for fresh water and supply remains limited, conserving rainwater would be the obvious option.

Instead, those managing the valuable resource are unmindful of the consequences of concreting the banks of rain-fed streams and nullahs of Islamabad.

“CDA is building walls to stop rainwater from seeping through the sides ignoring the fact that the seepage goes to recharge aquifers. Blocking this natural system would take the rainwater into Leh Nullah, cause flooding and eventually go waste,” said an Environment Ministry official.

“CDA would be wreaking long-term havoc for short-term gains of creating more (residential) plots by narrowing the streams,” he added. Also the capacity of the Rawal Lake, and its underwater plants, would suffer as a result of excessive silting and waste deposits “It is dangerously exposed to upstream constructions.Land grabbers are doing most damage by their activities along the banks of Korang River, altering the natural causeway which feeds Rawal Lake,” the official said.

However, a source in CDA explained that the natural streams were being lined with concrete only at places where residential areas or major constructions are in danger.

“Walls define the course of the nullahs. We have tried that water flows quickly into Leh which is a major source (of water) for the people living on the outskirts of the federal capital.

“Islamabad receives plenty of rains. The beds of the nullahs are not touched so as to allow seepage on the sides to maintain the natural balance,” the source said, allaying the fears that the walling would stop the replenishment of aquifers.

Nonetheless, the critics fear that surface and ground water supplies would not be able to meet Islamabad’s future water demand. They insist that water conservation and development of alternative water supplies are still necessary.

“Rainwater harvesting is the next renewable revolution. We can start with the President House or Parliament Secretariat collecting rainwater to irrigate their huge gardens,” said an environmentalist in the ministry.

Helga Ahmed was all for turning water scarcity into water abundance.

“Rainwater harvesting is an old concept with new value in a time of water shortages. Efficient water use is increasingly important.

With the city’s growing population and limited supply of both ground and surface water citizens must use water wisely,” she said.