ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is planning to install 110 piezometers with the support of South Korea for the automatic monitoring of water resources, as the city’s underground water table has been depleting rapidly.

The water table in the capital continues to go down — at least four feet every year.

Since the construction of Khanpur Dam, which also supplies water to Islamabad, no new source has been added to the system. The residents of Islamabad are still relying on three main sources — Simly, Khanpur and tubewells. From all its sources, CDA supplies a maximum of 70 million gallons per day to the urban areas while rural areas are dependent either on boring or small water supply schemes. The total demand of Islamabad is 283 mgd.

The government is now in the process of setting up the Potohar Water Board for resolving the water issues of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Meanwhile, the CDA on its own part has been making efforts to overcome the challenge.

Officials of the CDA held a meeting with a delegation from South Korea at the CDA headquarters to discuss water-related issues. The CDA team headed by Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa briefed the delegation about initiatives being taken to resolve the issue.

Delegation says a real-time water resource monitoring devices will be installed in Islamabad

The Korean delegation included representatives from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and South Korean hydrologists and water experts. The participants “discussed various projects aimed at modernising the water system in future. The Korean delegation assured their full cooperation regarding better groundwater management and water quality monitoring systems in Islamabad. The South Korean delegation offered to provide their support and technical assistance for development of an integrated ground water management plan to address water issues in the Federal Capital, Islamabad,” reads a press release issued by CDA.

It said that the South Korean delegation told the meeting that a modern system for improved monitoring of water resources and real-time water resource monitoring would be introduced in Islamabad.

“They also expressed their readiness for working on initiating a project for the installation of 110 piezometers for the automatic monitoring of water resources. Similarly, the delegation also assured their cooperation regarding professional technical capacity building,” said the statement.

The chairman CDA told the meeting that a clear timeline for the swift implementation of these projects to address water issues should be worked out. Both sides agreed to accelerate joint efforts for the permanent solution of water issues in Islamabad through mutual cooperation. The meeting also reiterated the commitment to fully benefit from South Korea’s technical expertise and experience to meet water challenges.

Mr Randhawa informed the meeting that CDA had been giving special attention to adopting sustainable solutions for the uninterrupted supply of clean and safe water to the citizens.

A briefing was given on measures for solving water issues and various projects in the Capital.

The meeting was told that initially 100 large rechargeable wells were being constructed at various locations in Islamabad to channel rainwater underground.

“Besides, 20 large reservoirs will be built to preserve clean water flowing through Islamabad’s natural streams. Besides the construction of new wastewater treatment plants, 11 wetlands are also being built at various locations to eliminate water pollution from the streams.”

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2025