ISLAMABAD, April 7: The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pepa) has chalked out a one-year water quality monitoring plan to control pollution in Rawal Lake, Simly and Khanpur dams , the main sources of water supply to the twin cities of Islamabad- Rawalpindi, official sources told Dawn.

They said Japan International Corporation Agency (Jica) would provide logistical support, including the services of water quality monitoring experts, for the purpose.

So far, a number of studies have been carried out - at students level and by non-governmental organizations - to determine the level of pollution in the reservoirs. However, Pepa lacks required date to make recommendations to the responsible quarters for checking pollution.

But the sources said there were indications that the water being supplied to citizens of the twin cities was unhealthy for consumption. Pepa has taken the initiative to establish a data base so that the agency in collaboration with the Capital Development Agency (CDA), Rawalpindi Development Agency (RDA) and Water and Sanitation Authority (Wasa) could work out a plan to address the issue, they said.

Under the plan, Pepa would collect water samples from these reservoirs throughout the year, starting this month, and would conduct laboratory tests. The officials said the environmental agency would also welcome volunteer organizations from public or private sector to share their findings in reference to water quality of Rawal Lake and Simly and Khanpur dams.

They said establishing its own verifiable data after one year's exercise, the agency would be able to make certain recommendations to the departments concerned - DA, RDA, Wasa, etc - so that they would be able to take necessary action.

It may be mentioned that according to a recently held meeting of the Rawal Lake Catchment Management Committee, the biological oxygen demand of the lake had jumped to an alarming level of 680 milligram per litre (mgl) against the national environmental quality standard's approved level of 80mgl.

In reply to a question, a Pepa official said constructions without proper sewerage system in the catchment areas of these water reservoirs were the major source of water contamination.

In the case of Rawal Lake, unabated construction is going on upstream both for residential and commercial purposes, which, he warned, would be a continuous source of water pollution.

"This is something very serious and if not controlled immediately will have far reaching health impacts on the end- users", he said. To another question, he said utilization of septic tanks was one of the solutions at individual level to neutralise pollutants; however, treatment filter plants were another recommendation at present.

Rawal Lake is the main source of water supply to Rawalpindi city and cantonment. It is constructed on Kurrang River and has a catchment area of 106 square miles, which generates 84,000 acre feet of water in an average rainfall year.

The official said through extensive chlorination of the water, it only became clear, but what about others multiple pollutants that could only be removed with special treatment plants.

"Yes, the agency under Pakistan Environment Protection Act 1997 can get hold of a person or an organization that violates its rules," he said. Unfortunately, the masses lack basic awareness of environmental issues, be it air or water pollution, he said.

He said the federal ministry of environment had rightly taken a step to include chapters in the curriculum at primary level to make younger generation more aware of environmental issues.