the end of 2017 (Malik 2017). For the control of water waste, both at the domestic
and industrial level, the PCRWR has established eight centers in different regions.
Each center has its strategic significance with the research and development (R&D)
objectives and has research and test laboratories, experimental farms, drainage
installation equipment, and groundwater investigation cells. For R&D, a national
water quality laboratory (NWQL) is established in the headquarter in Islamabad
which is trying to get international accreditation for water quality (PCRWR 2018).
NWQL is equipped with the testing of all types of water which include drinking and
irrigation. Besides, a network of water quality laboratories has also been established
to provide water testing facilities in major cities as well. The establishment of the
National Capacity Building Institute (NCBI) for water quality management with the
collaboration of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is another
significant effort for the improvement of water quality (PCRWR 2018). NCBI has
the following objectives:
• To establish a permanent national level setup for the water supply agencies in
Pakistan for water quality monitoring
• To train key managers, staff members, engineers, and scientists
• To produce and promote certifications and diplomas for the water quality
management
Besides, PCRWR has completed various projects in the last 15 years which are
directly or indirectly linked to the water quality and its improvement. Details are
shown in Table 6.1.
6.4 Some Approaches to Control the Water Pollution
For the better public health and sustainability of the environment, protecting the
drinking water and its different sources like lake, river, and other underground
springs is very much significant. Reducing the water illness secures not only the
health diseases but also increases the standard of living in the global community.
Various steps have been identified which can protect the drinking water from
imputed contamination from the harmful metals. Details are as under:
Normally, all types of drinking water either coming from the ground surface or
any other source are vulnerable to numerous contaminators. Multiple barrier
approach is a very meaningful strategy which contains several steps to control the
water contamination. These barriers include the risk prevention barrier (keeping
contamination away from entering various drinking water sources), risk management barriers (Safe Drinking Water Act, hiring of trained and skilled operators, and
emergency response plan, i.e., disaster management), risk compliance barriers
(effectiveness in dealing with safety of drinking water), and finally individual action
barrier (consistency in vigilance of drinking water) (EPA 2015).
In addition, various other steps can be considered to protect the groundwater from
contamination. The first strategy is the selection of the location which must not be
6 Water Contamination and Health Hazards in Pakistan: An Overview. . .
79
and industrial level, the PCRWR has established eight centers in different regions.
Each center has its strategic significance with the research and development (R&D)
objectives and has research and test laboratories, experimental farms, drainage
installation equipment, and groundwater investigation cells. For R&D, a national
water quality laboratory (NWQL) is established in the headquarter in Islamabad
which is trying to get international accreditation for water quality (PCRWR 2018).
NWQL is equipped with the testing of all types of water which include drinking and
irrigation. Besides, a network of water quality laboratories has also been established
to provide water testing facilities in major cities as well. The establishment of the
National Capacity Building Institute (NCBI) for water quality management with the
collaboration of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is another
significant effort for the improvement of water quality (PCRWR 2018). NCBI has
the following objectives:
• To establish a permanent national level setup for the water supply agencies in
Pakistan for water quality monitoring
• To train key managers, staff members, engineers, and scientists
• To produce and promote certifications and diplomas for the water quality
management
Besides, PCRWR has completed various projects in the last 15 years which are
directly or indirectly linked to the water quality and its improvement. Details are
shown in Table 6.1.
6.4 Some Approaches to Control the Water Pollution
For the better public health and sustainability of the environment, protecting the
drinking water and its different sources like lake, river, and other underground
springs is very much significant. Reducing the water illness secures not only the
health diseases but also increases the standard of living in the global community.
Various steps have been identified which can protect the drinking water from
imputed contamination from the harmful metals. Details are as under:
Normally, all types of drinking water either coming from the ground surface or
any other source are vulnerable to numerous contaminators. Multiple barrier
approach is a very meaningful strategy which contains several steps to control the
water contamination. These barriers include the risk prevention barrier (keeping
contamination away from entering various drinking water sources), risk management barriers (Safe Drinking Water Act, hiring of trained and skilled operators, and
emergency response plan, i.e., disaster management), risk compliance barriers
(effectiveness in dealing with safety of drinking water), and finally individual action
barrier (consistency in vigilance of drinking water) (EPA 2015).
In addition, various other steps can be considered to protect the groundwater from
contamination. The first strategy is the selection of the location which must not be
6 Water Contamination and Health Hazards in Pakistan: An Overview. . .
79