Residents of several localities in Karachi are struggling with water shortages and will have to wait longer for a regular supply. Electricity was also affected, disrupting power to the Dhabeji Pumping Station, which has yet to be restored, Dawn reported.
Major power breakdown at the Dhabeji facility
According to the report, a major power breakdown at the Dhabeji facility three days ago has triggered a severe water crisis across the city, leaving almost every locality without water.
Since the failure, Karachi has faced a total shortfall of over 350 million gallons per day (MGD), against the city’s already inadequate daily supply of around 650 MGD far below the required 1,250 MGD.
K-III Pumping House have remained out of service
A spokesperson for the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC), the city’s sole water utility, told Dawn that two feeders of a pumping house known as the K-III Pumping House have remained out of service for 96 hours. at the Dhabeji Pumping Station.
K-Electric attributed the outage to a fault in an underground cable, saying that repair efforts were being delayed due to accumulated rainwater. The company said that electricity supply would be restored once the water is drained.
Fault led to the shutdown
The KWSC spokesperson told Dawn that the fault, which occurred at 10 pm on June 26, led to the shutdown of two main water pumps at the K-III Pumping House.
“The outage has resulted in a staggering shortfall of over 350 MGD, and parts of districts East and Central Landhi, and Korangi spokesperson said. including Nazimabad, New Karachi, are facing severe disruptions in water supply,” the spokesperson said.
’70 MGD is currently being supplied’
The official added that 70 MGD of water used to be pumped from the K-III Pumping House, which is now inoperative. “However, 70 MGD is currently being supplied from the K-II Pumping House at the Dhabeji Pumping Station,” he noted.
The spokesperson also said that another breakdown occurred at the Damloti Pumping Station, causing suspension of water supply to areas including Malir, Khokrapar, Memon Goth, and Malir Cantt.
