Introduction of the Assignment:

Groundwater is essential for the existence of life on the globe. Water scarcity is one of the substantial challenges in developing countries like Pakistan. The impacts of water scarcity are obvious in these countries. Approximately 0.76% of freshwater is groundwater which is used as major source of drinking water in both rural and urban settings. However, water scarcity and contamination are pressing issues. Unregulated pumping has led to groundwater depletion and the drying up of wells in parts of Punjab and excess irrigation in areas where groundwater levels are high is contributing to widespread waterlogging in areas of Southern Punjab and Sindh. On the other hand, anthropogenic activities including mismanagement of domestic and industrial waste seeping into the ground is further contaminating the already depleting resources. Inadequate data collection has inhibited the ability to adopt evidence-based policies to improve groundwater management in Pakistan.

District Muzaffargarh Situated in South Punjab Suffers the same problem. Climate change, Natural disasters (floods) and natural soil conditions in the regions backed up by lack of adequate sanitation infrastructure in rural areas is continuously polluting the groundwater resulting in undrinkable groundwater quality in some regions contaminated with high TDS, Arsenic and microbial concentrations. This in turn compromises the sustainability of WASH services being delivered in the district along with the groundwater resources which is the major source of drinking water in the area.

Currently, District Water Quality Lab PHED is providing services for testing the water quality samples and carried out a comprehensive water quality mapping/ testing in the district Muzaffargarh. AGAHE aims to facilitate the department to develop a water safety plan for District Muzaffargarh by identifying the pollutants with their sources present in groundwater used for drinking purposes throughout the area and proposing practical mitigation measures to eliminate/control the sources of pollutants deteriorating the drinking water resources. The water safety planning will facilitate the context-based drinking water technological solutions.

AGAHE also aims to facilitate the department for development of risk assessment and mitigation measures strategy along with water quality monitoring mechanism to be adopted for other areas in Punjab.

Objectives of the Assignment:

The key objectives of the assignment are as following:

• Water Safety Planning: To develop a water safety plan for District Muzaffargarh to assist the government departments and other WASH actors to adopt need and context based technological solutions for treatment of drinking water.
• Risk Assessment Strategy: To provide a framework for water quality risk assessment for identifying risks associated with contamination of drinking water which can be adopted and scaled/replicated for other areas.
• Water Quality Monitoring Mechanism: To provide a water quality monitoring mechanism for regular and continuous water quality monitoring in Muzaffargarh to address the water quality challenges and ensure access to clean drinking water for all.