Punjab Moves To Smart Water Metering As Groundwater Reserves Decline
The Punjab government has decided to promote smart water metering across the province amid a rapid decline in groundwater reserves in urban areas, with authorities seeking to encourage responsible water consumption and reduce wastage.
Secretary Housing Noorul Amin Mengal has directed officials to expedite water metering projects in all districts, particularly Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Faisalabad. He stated that smart metering would raise public awareness about responsible water use and conservation.
WASA officials revealed that approximately 1.529 million water meters will be required across Punjab, with 150,900 meters planned for installation in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi by 2029.
The proposed smart metering system will facilitate automated meter readings, eliminating the need for manual readings and reducing human interference. Officials assured that the system would be transparent and based on modern technology.
Mengel also examined various water meter models during a meeting.
It was informed that work on 70 groundwater recharge wells across Punjab is underway, with 20 already fully operational. Plans include 40 recharge wells in Lahore, 25 in Multan, and five in Faisalabad, to be implemented in phases. The authorities aim to save 11.4 million gallons of water annually through these recharge projects.
Officials provided insights into water conservation measures adopted by other countries, while discussions focused on procuring affordable water meters from regional countries.
According to officials, the groundwater level in Lahore declined approximately three feet annually between 1970 and 2020. However, adjustments in tube-well operating hours have reduced the annual decline to about one foot, demonstrating the impact of implemented water management measures.
The government intends to accelerate both smart metering and groundwater recharge initiatives as part of broader efforts to safeguard water resources and tackle the province’s escalating groundwater challenges.
