Focus is to facilitate poor peoples access to water. Govt. engineers, CBOs and communities are partners in the process. The research report “Water supply in Karachi – Situation, Issues, Priority Issues and Solutions” was completed by Feb’08 and printed. The report continues to be disseminated thru forums, presentations and meetings, it is also available on the OPP-RTI website. Media reports now continue to present cases, statements from govt. officials and actions reflecting the report’s findings and solutions.

Govt. actions have been influenced. Earlier with frequent shortages of water, govt. officials would blame the poor settlements for stealing the water - disconnecting their supply lines. Now there is frequent action for disconnection of the illegal connections (from the bulk) of the unofficial hydrants, siphoning water. KWSB has now taken charge of the nine official hydrants (earlier managed by the rangers/para military) and have opened nine more, with one for each town. UC level small hydrants are also in operation, managed by the UC’s/KWSB. There is now more official supply thru tankers at the market rate. Media reports inform that KWSB’s earnings thru sale is negligible, so profiteering continues. Due to the dynamics of the process of KWSB being responsible for all supplies (including thru hydrants – as proposed in the report) the supply of water to water deficit areas has improved as the case study of areas in Orangi, Site and Baldia towns shows. For example to operate the KWSB Hydrants the supply pressure needs to be maintained. On the manghopir road, (location of the Hub Bulk supply line, 66”-77” dia), in the stretch from Banaras chowk to Dadex factory, earlier there were 4 main unofficial hydrants operating along the main road, these are not seen any more. With KWSB responsible for operating the hydrants people protest (as the case in UC-9 Orangi and UC-8 Site town), when on the one hand there is shortage in piped supply and on the other they see tankers filling up from the nearby KWSB hydrants, so the piped supply has to be restored.In 2009-10 there was improvement (by about 50-65%) in water supply especially in the three peripheral water deficit towns i.e. Orangi, Site and Baldia. Documentation of developments is regularly undertaken. Meanwhile advocacy of the ground reality and the solution continues thru contacts and discussions, whilemedia reports are also regularly informed.

Efforts are also ongoing by KWSB to replace bulk mains with MS pipes that are difficult to puncture. KWSB’s ongoing projects for metering the bulk supply and for an independent power plant at Dhabeji, (which is one of the 5 bulk pumping stations) has been delayed. However for most of the town level pumping stations, stand by generators are now in place.

The documentation of developments is strengthening OPP-RTI’s advocacy that – need is for mega management rather then mega projects.

PRESENTATION OF WATER SUPPLY