(Nawab et al. 2017). From the global context, one-fifth of the population is facing the
problem of contamination in the drinking water in the form of feces and more than
half million deaths have been recorded worldwide (Singh et al. 2017). However, the
situation of water contamination is much worst in developing and poor economies
because water supply sources are a major contributor for the mortality and morbidity
(Ashbolt 2004; Mosley and Chen 1984; Singh et al. 2017; Wright et al. 2004).
6.2 Overview of Quality of Drinking Water in Pakistan
A country like Pakistan is blessed with the natural resources, but the approach to
drinking water is up to a dangerous limit. It is found that only 20% of the population
has access to safe and clean drinking water in the country (Daud et al. 2017). The rest
of the 75% is forced to drink either fully or partially contaminated water. The
massive utilization is the key reason for the poor water supply for domestic,
industrial, and agricultural purposes (Daud et al. 2017). Besides, the addition of
municipal sewage and waste material and industrial wastewater and lack of decontamination and monitoring of quality at various water plants are also serious
challenges. As per the findings of Pakistan National Convervation Strategy
(PNCS), 40% of the diseases are because of contaminated drinking water which
includes giardiasis, diarrhea, infection, gastroenteritis, and intestinal worms. The
condition of infant deaths around the country is 60% which are caused by waterrelated diarrhea; thus having the highest ratio is the Asian region (Ahmed et al. 2007;
Shahid et al. 2015). The risk of contaminated drinking water is the worst in the most
populated province of Punjab and after that in other regions (Daud et al. 2017; Khan
et al. 2013, 2017). According to the findings of the United Nations International
Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), almost 20–40% of hospitals in Pakistan
have patients who are facing the waterborne illness (UNICEF 2016). Figures 6.1 and
6.2 explain the probability of arsenic level in the different regions of Pakistan. As per
the report of WHO (2017–2018), it is noted that the probability of arsenic level with
unsafe drinking water is almost 100% in the most populated area of Punjab (Lahore).
Such alarming situation of arsenic contamination in drinking water is causing severe
health hazards to millions of populations across the country and creating diseases
like lung cancer, skin disorder, and heart disease (DAWN 2017).
Due to a microbe in drinking water, toxin issue is also another problem in
drinking water. Such contamination is very harmful to both humans and animals
and causes disease like liver and kidney problems (Badar et al. 2017). The existence
of other heavy metals in drinking water causes a serious health problem with their
ubiquitous bioavailability. The contamination issue is not just because of arsenic but
similar other metals in surface water, groundwater, and wastewater as expressed by
Waseem et al. (2014). They have also claimed that such contamination is damaging
the nutrition of vegetables, overall ecological environment, and soil as well. For the
high level of arsenic pollution in water, Rasool et al. (2017) have pointed out the
anthropogenic activities across the country in different regions. As per the findings
of Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), it was found that
76
H. W. Kamran and A. Omran
problem of contamination in the drinking water in the form of feces and more than
half million deaths have been recorded worldwide (Singh et al. 2017). However, the
situation of water contamination is much worst in developing and poor economies
because water supply sources are a major contributor for the mortality and morbidity
(Ashbolt 2004; Mosley and Chen 1984; Singh et al. 2017; Wright et al. 2004).
6.2 Overview of Quality of Drinking Water in Pakistan
A country like Pakistan is blessed with the natural resources, but the approach to
drinking water is up to a dangerous limit. It is found that only 20% of the population
has access to safe and clean drinking water in the country (Daud et al. 2017). The rest
of the 75% is forced to drink either fully or partially contaminated water. The
massive utilization is the key reason for the poor water supply for domestic,
industrial, and agricultural purposes (Daud et al. 2017). Besides, the addition of
municipal sewage and waste material and industrial wastewater and lack of decontamination and monitoring of quality at various water plants are also serious
challenges. As per the findings of Pakistan National Convervation Strategy
(PNCS), 40% of the diseases are because of contaminated drinking water which
includes giardiasis, diarrhea, infection, gastroenteritis, and intestinal worms. The
condition of infant deaths around the country is 60% which are caused by waterrelated diarrhea; thus having the highest ratio is the Asian region (Ahmed et al. 2007;
Shahid et al. 2015). The risk of contaminated drinking water is the worst in the most
populated province of Punjab and after that in other regions (Daud et al. 2017; Khan
et al. 2013, 2017). According to the findings of the United Nations International
Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), almost 20–40% of hospitals in Pakistan
have patients who are facing the waterborne illness (UNICEF 2016). Figures 6.1 and
6.2 explain the probability of arsenic level in the different regions of Pakistan. As per
the report of WHO (2017–2018), it is noted that the probability of arsenic level with
unsafe drinking water is almost 100% in the most populated area of Punjab (Lahore).
Such alarming situation of arsenic contamination in drinking water is causing severe
health hazards to millions of populations across the country and creating diseases
like lung cancer, skin disorder, and heart disease (DAWN 2017).
Due to a microbe in drinking water, toxin issue is also another problem in
drinking water. Such contamination is very harmful to both humans and animals
and causes disease like liver and kidney problems (Badar et al. 2017). The existence
of other heavy metals in drinking water causes a serious health problem with their
ubiquitous bioavailability. The contamination issue is not just because of arsenic but
similar other metals in surface water, groundwater, and wastewater as expressed by
Waseem et al. (2014). They have also claimed that such contamination is damaging
the nutrition of vegetables, overall ecological environment, and soil as well. For the
high level of arsenic pollution in water, Rasool et al. (2017) have pointed out the
anthropogenic activities across the country in different regions. As per the findings
of Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), it was found that
76
H. W. Kamran and A. Omran