ADAPTIVE WATER

GOVERNANCE IN HIMALAYAN

TOWNS

Zeeshan Tahir Virk

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council

Pakistan Agricultural Research

Council

• Established in 1978, PARC is the apex body for agricultural

research in Pakistan

• Research Centres all across Pakistan

• Largest centre (National Agriculture Research Centre – Islamabad)

• Climate Change, Alternate Energy, and Water Resources Institute

• HI-AWARE Project

HI-AWARE

Himalayan Adaptation, Water and

Resilience Research on Glacier

and Snowpack Dependent River

Basins for Improving Livelihoods

Introduction to HI-AWARE

HI-AWARE funded through Collaborative

Adaptation Research Initiative for Africa &

Asia (CARIAA) (IDRC / DFID)

Project time period – 2013 to 2018

Pakistan – PARC

India – TERI University

Bangladesh – BCAS

Nepal – ICIMOD

Introduction to HI-AWARE

Study Areas in Pakistan

Hunza Sub-basin in

Upper Indus Basin

Soan Basin in Pothowar

Plateau

Chaj Doab in Indus

plains

High Mountain Study Area

(Hunza River Basin)

Flood Plain Study Area

(Chaj Doab)

Mid-Hill Study Area

(Soan River Basin)

Adaptive Water Governance in

Himalayan Towns

Introduction

A regional study, focusing on impacts of;

Urbanization Climate

Change

Water

Resources

Introduction

This study is focusing on water;

– Availability

– Demand and Supply

– Governance

– Impacts of climate change

• Increasing urbanization, population and climate change

impacts in Himalayan river basins are stressing the existing

water resources of these areas.

• This study is investigating emerging urban settlements in

Himalayan river basins, such as “Murree” in Pakistan

Himalaya's unique topography and hydrogeology is able to

support only

3 % Large cities 8 % Small towns People are

flocking to

nearest urban

centers

increasing

urbanization and

water access

challenges in

Himalayan

towns

By 2050, more than 50% of the population in six HKH

countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar,

and Pakistan) will live in cities. In Afghanistan and

Nepal, this %age is expected to reach earlier .

Urban centers in the HKH region

<50000

50000 -100000

100000 - 500000

500000 - 1000000

>1000000

Source: ICIMOD, 2017

Haveliyan

Murree

Mussorie

Devaprayag

Tansen

Palpa

Singtam

Kalimpong

FocusFrom left to right-

Objectives

• Assessing the current status of water

resources in Himalayan towns in

Pakistan.

• Understanding the ways in which

residents are adapting to the change in

water availability

Methodology

• Literature Review

• Secondary Data

• Quantitative Data

– Household Survey (Stratified Random

Sampling)

• Qualitative Data (Participatory Rural

Assessment)

– Focus Group Discussions

– Key Informant Interviews

Literature Review

Secondary Data

Quantitative Data

Qualitative Data

Data Analysis

MURREE

90% reliance on

springs for

domestic water

uses 1981

1998

20162017

153023

176426

214230250000+

Population ProjectionOriginal water supply network

installed by British army in

1884

Estimated current demand is

3 million gallons per

day

Historic hill station founded in 1800s

Murree Tehsil: 15 Ucs

Murree City: 1 UC (Murree

Urban)Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Murree City (Adminstrative)

Challenges

Tourist based water

demands and

resultant stresses on

available water resources

Commercial activities such

as hotels and

restaurant activities

involved in water stealing

No water-body source

such as lake/river/dam

Adaptation measures small

and scattered

Unsustainable and

resource intensive

development

Rain water

harvesting

Seasonal

migration

Identification

of new

sources

Jhelum

Water

Supply

Project

Strategies

Murree City (Major Settlements)

Major Settlements in Urban Murree

• Kachi Abadi Baroori

• Kashmiri Muhalla Bansra Gali

• Sunny Bank

• Pindi Point

• Sardar Noor Khan Town (Ihata Noor Khan)

• Shawala

• Dhobi Ghaat

• Abbasi Muhalla

• Kashmiri Muhalla Murree Hills

Major Settlements in Urban Murree

• Lower Bazar

• Kasai Muhalla

• Mochi Mandi

• Kashmir Point

• Hill Dholo

• Jhika Gali

• Mussairri

• Mall Road

• Kuldana Road

Murree City (Water Sources and Distribution)

Water Sources

• The main source: Spring water 90%

• 5 major water sources pump water to the reservoirs at Kashmir

point. These include the following;

• Doonga Gali:

– Oldest water scheme.

– Surface water

– Two reservoirs of 6.2 Million Gallons.

• Khanitak:

– Spring water

– capacity of 50000 gallons.

– It supplies nearly 100,000 gallons

– 4 stage pumping system.

Water Sources

• Masoot

– Spring water

– 2 capping tanks, of 50000 gallons.

– Daily supply 150,000 gallons

– 2 stage pumping system

• Dharjawa

– Largest spring water source

– Supplies nearly 800,000 to 1 million gallons daily

– 5 stage pumping system.

Water Sources

• Shawala:

– Spring Water

– Multi stage pumping system

– Supplies 70,000 to 100,000 gallons daily

Water Distribution

• Water is distributed by means of gravity with water stored in

6 reservoirs at Kashmir point and two other small water

tanks, one at Pindi point and the other at Kuldana Road.

• Original Water Supply Network Installed by British army in 1894

• Subsequent Addition to the Network (1974 – 1993)

• Complete Rehabilitation of the System 2009 – 2010

Water Distribution

S. NO Tank Name Capacity

1. Tonely Tank 1.3 Million Gallons

2. New Tonely Tank 0.7 Million Gallons

3. 3rd Storage Tank 2.6 Million Gallons

4. Panj-Paandu Tank 0.65 Million Gallons

5. Panj-Paandu Tank No. 2 2 Million Gallons

6. Panj-Paandu Tank No. 3 0.5 Million Gallons

7. Pindi Point Tank 1 Million Gallons

8. Kuldana Road Tank 0.5 Million Gallons

Other Water Sources

In addition to the above main water sources the

residents of the city utilize other sources such

as

• Small Springs ( Community based Capping)

• Un-capped springs

• Hill Torrents

• Rain Water Harvesting

Results

Demographics

12%

18%

14%32%

13%

8%3%

Education

Not literate

Primary School

Middle School

High School

Higher Secondary

Graduation

Post Graduation and above

65%

35%

Type of Family

Nuclear

Joint

70%

30%

Gender

Male

Female

16%

84%

Migrant/Non-Migrant Status

Migrant

Non Migrant

Household Statistics

92%

5%

3%

Type of House

Independent

Apartment

Slum/Informal Settlement

7%

92%

1%

Ownership Status

Rented

Owned

Others (Government House, etc.)

7%

92%

1%

Construction Type of House

Kucha

Pakka

Others(Both Kucha & Pakka)

9%

26%

37%

15%

6%7%

Monthly Household Income

Less than 10000

Between 10001 and 15000

Between 15001 and 30000

Between 30001 and 50000

Between 50001 and 100000

More than 100001

9%

91%

Dependence on Foreign Remittances

Yes

No

Main Water uses

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Drinking Cooking Washing Bathing Livestock Kitchen Garden

Different uses of water at Household

Different uses of water at Household

Main Water Sources

10%

5%1%

1%

1%

82%

Main source of water for drinking purpose

Municipal supply

Ground water drawn from personal bore/tube-well

Ground water drawn trough community tube-well

Stream/river/lake

Private water vendor selling bottled water

Springs

11%

4%2%

0%

1%

82%

Main source of water for cooking purpose

Municipal supply

Ground water drawn from personal bore/tube-well

Ground water drawn trough community tube-well

Stream/river/lake

Private water vendor selling bottled water

Springs

Main Water Sources

17%

5%2%

2%

70%

4%

Main source of water for washing purpose

Municipal supply

Ground water drawn from personal bore/tube-well

Ground water drawn trough community tube-well

Stream/river/lake

Springs

Rain water storage

17% 4%

2%

3%

1%

69%

4%

Main source of water for bathing purpose

Municipal supply

Ground water drawn from personal bore/tube-well

Ground water drawn trough community tube-well

Stream/river/lake

Private water vendor selling bottled water

Springs

Rain water storage

Alternate Water Sources

3%4%

4%0%

3%

83%

1%

2%

Alternate source for drinking purpose

Municipal supply

Ground water drawn from personal bore/tube-well

Ground water drawn trough community tube-well

Stream/river/lake

Private water vendor selling bottled water

Springs

Rain water storage

Water Tankers

3%6%

4%0%

3%

81%

1% 2%

Alternate source for cooking purpose

Municipal supply

Ground water drawn from personal bore/tube-well

Ground water drawn trough community tube-well

Stream/river/lake

Private water vendor selling bottled water

Springs

Rain water storage

Water Tankers

Alternate Water Sources

3%6%

5% 3%

1%

74%

3%5%

Alternate source for washing purpose

Municipal supply

Ground water drawn from personal bore/tube-well

Ground water drawn trough community tube-well

Stream/river/lake

Private water vendor selling bottled water

Springs

Rain water storage

Water Tankers

4%6%

5%

3% 1%

73%

3%5%

Alternate source for bathing purpose

Municipal supply

Ground water drawn from personal bore/tube-well

Ground water drawn trough community tube-well

Stream/river/lake

Private water vendor selling bottled water

Springs

Rain water storage

Water Tankers

Source Water Quality

Type of Water

Source

Color Smell Taste

Dirty/ha

s ColorClear

Foul

Smell

No Foul

Smell

Unaccept

able Taste

Normal

Taste

Municipal water

supply

2 27 6 23 9 20

18.2% 16.5% 60.0% 13.9% 45.0% 12.9%

Ground Water0 8 0 8 0 8

0.0% 4.9% 0.0% 4.8% 0.0% 5.2%

Lake/river/pond0 1 0 1 0 1

0.0% .6% 0.0% .6% 0.0% .6%

Private water

vendors selling

bottled water

0 1 0 1 0 1

0.0% .6% 0.0% .6% 0.0% .6%

Spring Water9 127 4 132 11 125

81.8% 77.4% 40.0% 80.0% 55.0% 80.6%

Total11 164 10 165 20 155

100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Seasonal Variation in Water quality

Type of

Water

Source

Seasonal

Variation in

Water Quality Summer Monsoon Winter

Yes No Good Average

No

Response Good Average

No

Response Good Average

No

Response

Municipal

water supply

7 22 0 6 22 0 2 22 2 5 22

17.1% 16.4% 0.0% 22.2% 16.4% 0.0% 25.0% 16.4% 11.8% 31.3% 16.4%

Ground Water 0 8 0 0 8 0 0 8 0 0 8

0.0% 6.0% 0.0% 0.0% 6.0% 0.0% 0.0% 6.0% 0.0% 0.0% 6.0%

Lake/river/pon

d

0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1

0.0% .7% 0.0% 0.0% .7% 0.0% 0.0% .7% 0.0% 0.0% .7%

Private water

vendors selling

bottled water

0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1

0.0% .7% 0.0% 0.0% .7% 0.0% 0.0% .7% 0.0% 0.0% .7%

Spring Water 34 102 5 21 102 4 6 102 15 11 102

82.9% 76.1% 100.0% 77.8% 76.1% 100.0% 75.0% 76.1% 88.2% 68.8% 76.1%

Total 41 134 5 27 134 4 8 134 17 16 134

100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Spring Water

89%

11%

Use of Spring Water

Yes

No

83%

6%

11%

Frequency of Spring Water Use

Very Often

Only During Crisis

Not Applicable

82%

6%

0%

1%

11%

Seasonal Dependency on Water from Springs

Throughout the year

Summers and Pre-monsoon

Monsoons

Winters

Not Applicable

83%

5%

1%

11%

Last time since Spring Water was used

Within Last 15 Days to One Month

Within Last 6 months

More than 6 months to one year back

Not Applicable

Spring Water

0 50 100 150 200

Drinking

Cooking

Bathing

Washing

Others(Livestock and Kitchen Garden)

Different Uses of Spring Water

Different Uses of Spring Water

• Average Distance of

household from

spring source = 380

meters

• Average cost of

accessing spring

water =913 PKR

approximately 1000

PKR

Spring Water

0 20 40 60 80 100

Adult Females

Adult Males

Female Children

Male Children

Not Collecting

Household Water Collection

Household Water Collection

Average Household Daily Water

Consumption & Storage

S.NO Consumption (Litres) Storage (Litres)

Drinking15.07 -

Cooking10.28 -

Drinking + Cooking 24.92 27.67

Bathing77.085 -

Washing84.11 -

Bathing +Washing 159.65 196.1

Household Water Storage

58%

42%

Access to Household Storage Tank

Yes

No

52%

6%

42%

No. of Household Storage Tanks

One

Two

Not Applicable

19%

3%

36%

42%

Source of Water for storage Tank

Personal Bore-wells

Water Tankers

Others (Municipal Supply, Springs etc.)

Not Applicable

53%

3%2%

42%

Number of times the storage tanks are filled in a day

Once

Twice

More than two times

Not Applicable

Average

Capacity of

Storage Tank =

525 Litres

Perceptions of Water Availability

33%

8%

1%14%

8%

9%

27%

Most Critical Water ChallengeLong distance of the water source from the house

Limited people in the house to help in water collection

High expenditure on water (includes water bills, investments, transportation costs etc.)

Limited Hours of Supply

Low Quality of Water

Lack of sufficient storage facilities

Others

71%

22%

7%

Changes in Water availability over the past 20 years

Yes

No

No Response/Don't Know/Can't Say

Perceptions of Water Availability

24%

26%

18%

19%

10%

3%

Reasons for Change in Water Availability

Decrease in Rain and Increase in Temperature

Depleteing Water Resources due to Increasing Demand

Over Exploitation of Ground Water Resources

Mismanaged Water Resources

Poor and Inefficient Water Infrastructure

Others(Increase in Poupulation, Urbanization, Earthquakes etc.)

Perceptions of Climate Change

81%

19%

Household Perception of Climate Change in

the city

Yes

No57%22%

2%

19%

Changes in Winters over the last 20 years

Warmer

Colder

No Change

Not Applicable 74%

4%

3%

19%

Changes in Summers over the last 20 years

Warmer

Colder

No Change

Not Applicable

7%

73%

1%19%

Changes in Snowfall over the last 20 years

Increased

Decreased

No Change

Not Applicable

27%

50%

4%

19%

Changes in Summer Rains over the last 20 years

Increased

Decreased

No Change

Not Applicable

38%

22%

21%

19%

Changes in Onset of Monsoon Rains over the last 20 years

Before time

On time

Delayed

Not Applicable

Perceptions of Climate Change

59%

5%

15%

0%

2%

19%

Changes in Intensity & Duration of Monsoon Rains over the last 20

years

Short Duration Heavy Showers

Long Duration Heavy Showers

Short Duration Light Showers

Long Duration Light Showers

No Change

Not Applicable

14%

9%

59%

18%

Occurrence of Flash floods

Increased

Decreased

No Change

Not Applicable

8%

73%

19%

Occurrence of Frequent Droughts

Yes

No

Not Applicable

Organizational Support

5%

95%

Organizational Support

Yes

No

22%

67%

11%

Type of Organization

NGO

Political Party/Party based organization

Government Organization

12%

75%

13%

Type of Support

Financial

Technological/Infrastructural

Capacity building/awareness generation

Discussion

Water Demand and Consumption

Estimated current demand as per TMA is 2.5 to 3 Million

Gallons per Day (MGD).

The per capita demand is considered to be around 40

gallons per capita per day as per Town Municipal

Administration.

The current water supply to the city varies from 1.2 to

1.5 MGD.

55% Municipal Water for Civil Population, 45%

Cantonment

Increase in population, increased tourism in recent years

and load shedding of electricity are the main reasons of

deficit

Commercial Water Consumption

• Tourism is a huge Industry for the City.

• Seasonal Tourist Influx plus the migrant

population increases the original 25000

inhabitants to 0.5 Million people

• Limited hours of Municipal Water Supplies to

the Hotel Owners

• Use Water Tankers at High costs to meet

demands

• Often forced to steal water and affect the

system

Water in Sub-Urban Murree

• Condition of Water Resources, availability

and management is extremely poor in the

Sub-Urban areas and Urban-Rural Fringe

areas.

• Most Communities rely on spring water for

drinking and rain water for domestic

purposes.

Water in Sub-Urban Murree

• Government and NGOs have worked in past on

water supply schemes, many of which have

become dysfunctional and need rehabilitation,

others are over stressed due to increase in

population

• The slow development process is unable to

compete with fast urbanization and increasing

population

Potential Adaptive Strategies

• Rain Water Harvesting

• Deep Water Wells

• Seasonal Migration

• Identification of New Sources

• Revival of the Jehlum Water Supply

Project

Thank YouQuestions ?