Rawalpindi: 80 pc water supplied by private tankers unfit for humans

More than 80 per cent of water supplied by private tanker services in Rawalpindi city is unfit for human consumption, a laboratory report from the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has found.
A laboratory test was conducted by Wasa in light of Supreme Court directions to streamline illegal water hydrants and private tankers.
Wasa’s water quality laboratory testing found that 53 illegal water hydrants were supplying water through private tanker services that is not fit for human consumption.
Reports say the cantonment boards have not conducted tests of water supplied by private tankers and also there are no details on water hydrants in the area even though more than 70pc of cantonment residents rely on private tankers for their water supply.
A senior district administration official was quoted as saying that most of the people around Jhelum Road and Airport Road were acquiring water from private tankers.
He said water quality tests had found that water hydrants were supplying water that was not fit for human consumption.
The district administration has decided to streamline matters by imposing a fee of private tanker services and legalising hydrants, as well as supplying water after it has been chlorinated.
The commissioner has asked civic organisations to ensure that water supplied to citizens is clean, and directed Wasa to monitor the price of water being supplied by tankers and ensure its cleanliness as soon as possible.
Wasa Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood says the water quality report is revealed and water needs to be cleaned before it is supplied