ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: The federal capital is heading towards another water crisis due to inadequate reserves in Simly and Khanpur dams, sources in the CDA told Dawn on Wednesday.

The sources said due to insufficient rains in the catchment areas of Simly and Khanpur dams, the level in both the dams is stated to be lower than last year’s.

It is feared that rains in winter will remain below normal as has been the case for the last three years in the capital.

The sources said rationing would continue in Islamabad till water level in both dams, specially Simly, increased in winter.

They said the level in Simly Dam recorded on Wednesday was 2,285 feet against last years’s level of 2,295 feet. Similarly, the water level in Khanpur Dam is stated to be 15 feet lower than last year’s.

They said water level in the dam was declining as a result of which, the CDA had to continue water rationing in the capital.

The condition of the present reserves in Islamabad is stated to be unsatisfactory.

They said insufficient rain was the main reason of sudden decline in the level of water in the dam.

“If there is no rain in the city, the authority will further squeeze the supply to Islamabad, they added.

Normally the total supply of water in Islamabad remains over 65 million gallons per day (MGD). However, some 55 MGD is being supplied these days.

Now the supply of water from Simly has reduced and only 16 MGD is being supplied from Simly Dam, and in case there is no rain the may be further reduced to 13 MGD next month.

The present supply of water from all 180 tubewells in the federal capital is 25 MGD. Some seven MGD is being supplied from water augmentation scheme and eight MGD is being provided from Khanpur Dam. Some two MGD was being supplied from other sources, he added.

The CDA official appealed to the residents of Islamabad to avoid water wastage by adopting several measures and proper maintenance of fixtures inside their homes.