The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has completed the task of installing 12 desalination plants along Manchar lake for providing potable water to the populace residing in the areas adjacent to the lake. The honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan, during the hearing of a suo-moto notice, had directed WAPDA and the Sindh Government to install desalination plants along the lake to provide contamination-free, safe drinking water to the fishermen folk of the area. The construction as well as installation of all the 12 plants have been completed by WAPDA, however, both WAPDA and the Sindh Government have arranged the funds for six plants each. The water treatment plants have cumulative design capacity of 15000 liters per hour. Over 4,000 families of fishermen folk (about 32,000 to 40,000 persons) are being facilitated with high quality potable water (total dissolved solids 200 – 300 particles per million) by treating high saline effluent of Manchar lake (total dissolved solids 5000 – 10000 particles per million). The Sindh Government-funded plants have been handed over to the province, while handing over of rest of the six WAPDA-funded plants is under process. WAPDA has made arrangements for effective operation and maintenance of the plants.
