HYDERABAD, March 3 Depletion of fresh water resources and disposal of domestic and industrial waste into fresh water bodies are causing both scarcity and contamination of this commodity.

These and other water-related issues were discussed at length during a seminar titled “Water resources depletion treatment and recycling” jointly organised by the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Sindh Agriculture University and the University of Exeter, UK and sponsored by the British Council Karachi and Oxfam.

Speakers furthering their views stated that the supply system was intermittent due to water shortage and compelled people to fetch it through other means thus putting pressure on it while at the same time polluting supply mains.

Prof Dr Riaz Ahmad Suhag, Dean Faculty of Engineering, MUET Jamshoro and Prof Dr R.B Mahar, Co-Director, Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management (IEEM), MUET Jamshoro welcoming the guests said that the quality of water was deteriorating due to rapid urbanisation and decrease in its availability.

Three pilot scale grey water recycling plants were being established at the

National Centre of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry (NCEAC), the MUET and Sindh Agriculture University through this project, said Dr Fayyaz Memon from the University of Exeter.

The purpose is to conduct research and develop an indigenous technology for wastewater treatment in Pakistan, especially in urban areas of Sindh which was reeling under acute water shortage.

The main focus was on the grey water collected from buildings which after recycling was found fit for flushing, car washing and gardening.

Ashfaque Ahmad Pathan from the MUET demonstrated his locally fabricated prototype for grey water treatment. Manzoor Rajput, another research staff from the same university, spoke on technology he had built based on UK experience for cleaning wastewater through different local plant species.