What can Pakistan learn from Chicago’s Water Management Model to address Water Scarcity?

Pakistan, which had abundant water resources some forty years ago, now faces a dire crisis. Ranked as the 15th most water-stressed country globally, Pakistan is on track to become water-scarce by 2035. Despite the water system covering 92% of the population, only 36% of Pakistan’s water supply is deemed safe for consumption, according to UNICEF. Millions lack clean water and are fighting a losing battle against preventable waterborne diseases. The situation has worsened with climate-induced disasters, such as the devastating floods of 2022.

Pakistan’s Growing Water Challenges

Pakistan’s water issues are multifaceted. The country of 250 million is grappling with challenges such as poor water supply, sanitation, wastewater management, and contamination. With groundwater depletion, pollution, and inadequate water infrastructure, Pakistan’s water crisis is intensifying. According to the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) 2021 report, 61% of water sources in 29 Pakistani cities are unsafe for drinking. This alarming statistic is compounded by the fact that around 40% of diseases and deaths in Pakistan are linked to waterborne pathogens.

The lack of clean and reliable drinking water has compelled many Pakistanis, especially in urban areas, to rely on bottled water, if they can afford it. In cities like Karachi, hundreds of thousands of residents are forced to purchase water from tankers, often sourced from unknown or unregulated locations. This has created an informal water market, leaving poorer residents with limited access to safe drinking water.

Islamabad’s Water Crisis and Recent Initiatives

Islamabad, despite being a well-planned capital, is not immune to water scarcity. Managed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the city’s water supply hasn’t kept pace with its surging population. No new water sources have been developed since the construction of Khanpur Dam in the 1990s, while the population has ballooned from 600,000 to 2.6 million.

• The current daily water demand of Islamabad (urban + rural) is 250 million gallons (MGD), yet the CDA only supplies 70 MGD from Simly Dam, Khanpur Dam, and 190 tubewells.
• Groundwater, contributing less than 10% of the total supply, has seen alarming depletion, with the water table dropping from 10 meters in the 1960s to depths of 60-120 meters today.
• Islamabad has only one functioning sewage treatment plant, which processes less than 20% of the city’s sewage.

Initiatives: In May 2024, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) approved the construction of two new small dams, Shahdara and Chiniot, as part of its strategy to address Islamabad’s ongoing water shortage issues. Another initiative is rainwater harvesting and artificial groundwater recharge using inverted wells. PCRWR and CDA have developed 92 recharge wells across the city, which managed to recharge about 72 million gallons of water during the last monsoon season. Despite these efforts, Islamabad still needs comprehensive water management strategies to meet its growing demand and ensure a sustainable future.

What is the solution?

In a country where water scarcity is rapidly escalating into a national crisis, the need for sustainable water management has never been more urgent. Chicago, with its innovative water management strategies, offers valuable lessons that Pakistan can adapt to address its water challenges.

Connecting the dots: Comparing Islamabad and Chicago water management

Given the severity of Islamabad’s water crisis, examining successful models from other cities can reveal valuable insights. Chicago and Islamabad, while sharing a similar population size of approximately 2.6 million, face distinct water management challenges due to their different geographies.

Chicago benefits from its location on the shore of Lake Michigan, one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes, and manages a substantial water demand of nearly 1 billion gallons daily. In contrast, Islamabad, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, relies on limited reservoirs and groundwater, with a water demand significantly less than Chicago’s. Despite Islamabad’s water demand being four times less than Chicago’s, it struggles with outdated infrastructure and depleting resources. By comparing these cities, we can gain insights into how diverse geographic and resource contexts influence water management strategies, and how Chicago’s advanced systems might inform improvements in Islamabad’s water management framework.

These insights were gained during a visit organized by the Institute of Urbanism (IoU) and the School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF) in collaboration with DePaul University of Chicago, supported by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad as part of the Green Urban Development (GUD) project, which offered a closer look at the innovative water management strategies being employed in Chicago.

Learning from Chicago’s Water Management Model

Chicago’s approach to water management showcases how proactive planning and innovation can transform a city’s fate. Chicago, home to over 2.7 million people, relies on Lake Michigan as its sole source of drinking water, delivering over 1 billion gallons daily to its residents through the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM).

The city of Chicago has a long history of protecting the quality of its drinking water source, Lake Michigan – the largest freshwater lake in the United States and the fifth largest lake in the world. Chicago’s water crisis in the late 19th century, stemming from the contamination of Lake Michigan that made people sick, prompted an audacious solution: reversing the flow of the Chicago River to redirect wastewater away from the lake and towards the Mississippi River. This engineering marvel, completed in 1900, laid the groundwork for modern water management practices in the city.

Today, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) treats over 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater daily, including stormwater runoff, ensuring the cleanliness of Chicago’s waterways. The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, the world’s largest, processes around 700 million gallons of wastewater per day.

Innovations in Chicago’s Water Management

Chicago’s long history of water management provides a strong foundation for future water conservation efforts. Chicago’s water management model is built on a multifaceted approach, blending advanced technology, regulatory oversight, community engagement, and education. Key strategies include:

Stormwater Best Management Practices: Chicago employs Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality. The commonly used practices to manage stormwater runoff include vegetated swales, infiltration trenches and basins, detention basins, green roofs, rain barrels, permeable pavements, and natural landscaping.

Green roofs, in particular, absorb rainwater, reducing the burden on the sewer system. These methods help collect runoff for greywater reuse. Greywater is untreated wastewater from sources like bathtubs, showers, and laundry, excluding toilet and kitchen waste, and its reuse can help reduce sewer loads and bypass typical watering restrictions. Treated greywater can be reused for car washing, laundry, toilet flushing, and spray irrigation for plants and vegetables.

Water Reclamation Capabilities: The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is a special-purpose government agency responsible for wastewater treatment and stormwater management across Chicago and nearby communities. Established in 1889, the agency has evolved into a globally recognized leader in water management.

Today, MWRD treats an average of 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater every day, which is released into rivers and streams, and manages stormwater for the city of Chicago and 128 suburban communities in Cook County. It converts wastewater into valuable resources, including clean water, phosphorus, biosolids, and natural gas. Annually, MWRD treats nearly 450 billion gallons of wastewater across its seven facilities. MWRD operates one of the world’s largest water reclamation and nutrient recovery facilities and is recognized for its forward-thinking approaches to water sustainability.

Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP): Also known as the ‘Deep Tunnel’ project, this massive network of tunnels and reservoirs captures and stores excess stormwater, significantly reducing flooding and improving water quality in the Chicago River. In its 50 years of service, TARP has made a lasting impact as these tunnels and reservoirs have helped capture more than 1 trillion gallons of sewage and stormwater.

Smart Technologies: Chicago uses water meters and real-time water quality monitoring systems to track water usage in real-time, allowing for efficient resource allocation and reducing water wastage.

Chicago’s water demand is expected to reach 1.09 billion gallons daily by 2025, but the city’s comprehensive water management plan ensures the sustainable use of Lake Michigan’s vast resources.

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Key Lessons for Pakistan from Chicago

For Pakistan, addressing its water crisis requires a holistic approach. While the challenges are immense, Pakistan can draw several key lessons from Chicago’s water management model:

1. Investing in water infrastructure: Pakistan must invest in large-scale infrastructure projects, such as building new reservoirs to capture and store rainwater during the monsoon season. Repairing and upgrading outdated water supply systems, including pipelines, can reduce water losses. These steps are crucial to ensure safe drinking water and mitigate the effects of water scarcity.
   
2. Wastewater Management: Chicago’s success in improving water quality through wastewater management offers a model for Pakistan. Implementing advanced wastewater treatment technologies and creating infrastructure for stormwater management can help address contamination issues and prevent waterborne diseases.
   
3. Best Management Practices: Urban centers like Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi could benefit from adopting best management practices. Green infrastructure, such as rain barrels, green roofs, and permeable pavements, could help reduce urban flooding and enhance groundwater recharge.
   
4. Smart Technologies and Monitoring: Implementing water meters and online monitoring systems could revolutionize Pakistan’s water management. These technologies can track usage, reduce wastage, and improve equitable water distribution.
   
5. Regulatory Reforms: Pakistan must strengthen its water governance frameworks and enforce them at both the national and local levels.
   
6. Public Awareness: Community engagement and public awareness campaigns, similar to those in Chicago, are essential for promoting water conservation. Pakistan should invest in educating its population about water conservation and the impacts of water pollution to foster a culture of sustainable water use.
   
7. Water Conservation: One of the most cost-effective ways to maintain water supplies is to conserve water. Pakistan urgently needs to expand its water storage infrastructure. Building small dams in catchment areas can help capture excess rainwater and reduce reliance on groundwater. Pakistan receives about 145 million acre-feet (MAF) of water annually, yet its storage capacity is a mere 13.7 MAF, leading to significant wastage during high rainfall periods.
   
8. Develop a Water Reuse Guidebook as part of Pakistan’s national water sustainability strategy, drawing inspiration from the Chicago Water Reuse Handbook. This guide would offer essential strategies for water reuse and conservation, providing clear regulations and practical examples for builders, city planners, and service providers across the country. Regular updates would ensure it remains a relevant and comprehensive resource for the implementation and maintenance of water reuse systems while promoting best practices at both local and national levels.
   

Challenges – Water issues unique to Pakistan

While Chicago values long-term water innovation, Pakistan faces financial, political, and agricultural challenges that hinder the full adoption of such strategies. Political instability, elite interests tied to water-intensive agriculture, outdated infrastructure, weak governance, and the increasing threat of climate change all exacerbate the country’s water crisis. Recent incidents, such as the fish die-off in Rawal Dam, highlight Islamabad’s growing water management issues, emphasizing the need for comprehensive solutions like those employed by Chicago.

Solution: To address these challenges, Pakistan must prioritize a sustainable water management strategy. Learning from Chicago’s robust systems for stormwater management and wastewater treatment, Pakistan can focus on investing in infrastructure upgrades, promoting water-efficient agricultural practices, and strengthening governance through clear, enforceable policies. International partnerships and technological innovations, such as smart irrigation and wastewater recycling. Encouraging long-term planning across the federal and provincial governments is essential for the continuity of policies and reforms. Public awareness campaigns and community engagement are key to making long-term progress and ensuring the success of water conservation efforts.

For instance, CDA’s plan to set up a dedicated Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) in Islamabad is a positive step, but more must be done to tackle depleting groundwater levels and pollution.  As Shahida Parveen’s 2022 study on water-borne diseases highlighted, improving wastewater treatment facilities and adopting innovative technologies like carbon nanotubes could significantly reduce health risks. Additionally, she suggested three key strategies to reduce waterborne infections in Pakistan: increasing the amount and quality of drinking water, improving sewage disposal, and providing access to affordable and suitable sanitation facilities.

Water Vision for the Future — Recommendations to ensure Long-term Clean Water Supply in Pakistan

Pakistan requires comprehensive water management strategies to meet its growing demand and ensure a sustainable water supply for future generations. Here are some key suggestions to secure the future of water resources:

1. Understanding future water demand: Accurately forecasting water demand is essential for sustainable management. Key drivers like population growth, employment, and housing density directly influence water usage. Local data can help municipalities understand demand patterns and their impact on overall water consumption.

2. Increasing conservation and efficiency: Promoting water-saving measures, such as efficient plumbing systems and community awareness programs, can significantly extend Pakistan’s long-term water supplies. Efficient water use is critical to reducing pressure on existing resources and addressing challenges like climate change.

3. Incorporating water management into local planning: Local governments must integrate water supply considerations into land use and infrastructure plans. Future growth should align with water resource availability, supporting conservation, and protecting existing supplies.

4. Impact of planning and development on water supply: Coordinating between urban planners and utility managers is vital to ensure that development does not exceed water supply capabilities and that water-efficient practices are prioritized.

5. Develop effective water reuse measures, focusing on rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling. For greywater systems, collect water from sources like showers and laundry, filter and purify it, and store it for reuse in flushing toilets and urinals. This approach is most beneficial where a reliable source of greywater is available for harvesting.

6. Sustainable Agriculture: Given that agriculture consumes nearly 90% of Pakistan’s water, a shift towards water-efficient crops and irrigation methods is crucial. Encouraging farmers to adopt drip irrigation and reducing the cultivation of water-intensive crops could alleviate pressure on water resources.

7. Long-term water planning: To secure future water supplies, Pakistan must integrate water resource management into long-term urban planning. This involves considering both current and future water demands when making decisions about land use, infrastructure, and development. By aligning growth with water availability, implementing conservation strategies, and exploring alternative sources, the country can ensure a sustainable water supply for generations to come.

Pakistan’s water crisis is daunting, but not insurmountable. By learning from Chicago’s century-long commitment to water innovation, Pakistan can develop a sustainable water management model that secures the future of its water resources. The path forward lies in bold infrastructure projects, smart technologies, regulatory reforms, and community engagement.

With the right investments and long-term planning, Pakistan can turn the tide on its water crisis and ensure a safe, reliable water supply for all its citizens.