HIGH RISK OF CONTAMINATED WATER

THERE IS HIGH RISK FOR THE PEOPLE OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE BECAUSE OF CONTAMINATED WATER

People in Pakistan are at high risk of gastroenteritis, cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, acute respiratory infection as well as Blue Baby Syndrome, as safe drinking water is available  to only 15% people in the urban and 18% in rural areas.

The quality of drinking water supply is poor, with bacterial contamination, arsenic, fluoride and nitrate being the factors of major concern. The vast majority of the population does not have access to safe drinking water due to which incidence of water borne disease is  increasing rapidly.

High population growth rate, urbanization, industrialization and new environmental constraints are aggravating the problem.

It has been estimated that water, sanitation and hygiene related disease cost Pakistan’s economy about Rs. 112 billion per year in terms of health costs and lost earning.

Situation is even worse for the rural areas of the country where 88 percent of the population lack access to safe drinking water.

While the filtration plants installed in the capital are supplying highly unsafe water contaminated mainly with microbial contamination.