GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN

PAKISTAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT

NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DRINKING WATER QUALITY

NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DRINKING WATER QUALITY (NSDWQ)

National Standards for Drinking Water Quality

PROPERTIES/PARAMETERS	STANDARD VALUES FOR PAKISTAN	WHO STANDARDS	REMARKS
Bacterial
All water intended for drinking (e.Coli or Thermotolerant Coliform bacteria)	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample	Most Asian countries also follow WHO standards
Treated water entering the distribution system (E.Coli or thermo tolerant coliform and total coliform bacteria)	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample	Most Asian countries also follow WHO standards
Treated water in the distribution system (E.coli or thermo tolerant coliform and total coliform bacteria)	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample In case of large supplies, where sufficient samples are examined, must not be present in 95% of the samples taken throughout any 12-month period.	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample In case of large supplies, where sufficient samples are examined, must not be present in 95% of the samples taken throughout any 12-month period.	Most Asian countries also follow WHO standards
Physical
Colour	≤15 TCU	≤15 TCU
Taste	Non objectionable/Acceptable	Non objectionable/Acceptable
Odour	Non objectionable/Acceptable	Non objectionable/Acceptable
Turbidity	‹ 5 NTU	‹ 5 NTU
Total hardness as CaCO3	< 500 mg/l	—
TDS	‹ 1000	‹ 1000
pH	6.5 – 8.5	6.5 – 8.5
Chemical
Essential Inorganic	mg/Litre	mg/Litre
Aluminium (Al) mg/1	<0.2	0.2
Antimony (Sb)	<0.005 (P)	0.02
Arsenic (As)	< 0.05 (P)	0.01	Standard for Pakistan similar to most Asian developing countries
Barium (Ba)	0.7	0.7
Boron (B)	0.3	0.3
Cadmium (Cd)	0.01	0.003	Standard for Pakistan similar to most Asian developing countries
Chloride (Cl)	<250	250
Chromium (Cr)	<0.05	0.05
Copper (Cu)	2	2
Toxic Inorganic	mg/Litre	mg/Litre
Cyanide (CN)	<0.05	0.07	Standard for Pakistan similar to Asian developing countries
Fluoride (F)*	<1.5	1.5
Lead (Pb)	<0.05	0.01	Standard for Pakistan similar to most Asian developing countries
Manganese (Mn)	< 0.5	0.5
Mercury (Hg)	<0.001	0.001
Nickel (Ni)	<0.02	0.02
Nitrate (NO3)*	<50	50
Nitrite (NO2)*	<3 (P)	3
Selenium (Se)	0.01(P)	0.01
Residual chlorine	0.2-0.5 at consumer end 0.5-1.5 at source	–
Zinc (Zn)	5.0	3	Standard for Pakistan similar to most Asian developing countries
*    indicates priority health related inorganic constituents which need regular monitoring.
Organic
Pesticides mg/L		PSQCA No. 4639-2004, Page No. 4 Table No. 3 Serial No. 20- 58 may be consulted.***
Phenolic compounds (as Phenols) mg/L		< 0.002
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (as PAH) g/L		0.01 ( By GC/MS method)
Radioactive
Alpha Emitters bq/L or pCi	0.1	0.1
Beta emitters	1	1

*** PSQCA: Pakistan Standards Quality Control Authority

Proviso:

The existing drinking water treatment infrastructure is not adequate to comply with WHO guidelines. The Arsenic concentration in South Punjab and in some parts of Sindh have been found high then Revised WHO Guidelines. It will take some time to control Arsenic through treatment process. Lead concentration in the proposed standards is higher than WHO Guidelines. As the piping system for supply of drinking water in urban centres are generally old and will take significant resources and time to get them replaced. In the recent past, Lead was completely phased out from petroleum products to cut down Lead entering into environment. These steps will enable to achieve WHO guidelines for Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium and Zinc. However, for bottled water, WHO limits for Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium and Zinc will be applicable and PSQCA Standards for all the remaining parameters.

GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN

PAKISTAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT

NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DRINKING WATER QUALITY

NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DRINKING WATER QUALITY (NSDWQ)

National Standards for Drinking Water Quality

PROPERTIES/PARAMETERS	STANDARD VALUES FOR PAKISTAN	WHO STANDARDS	REMARKS
Bacterial
All water intended for drinking (e.Coli or Thermotolerant Coliform bacteria)	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample	Most Asian countries also follow WHO standards
Treated water entering the distribution system (E.Coli or thermo tolerant coliform and total coliform bacteria)	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample	Most Asian countries also follow WHO standards
Treated water in the distribution system (E.coli or thermo tolerant coliform and total coliform bacteria)	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample In case of large supplies, where sufficient samples are examined, must not be present in 95% of the samples taken throughout any 12-month period.	Must not be detectable in any 100 ml sample In case of large supplies, where sufficient samples are examined, must not be present in 95% of the samples taken throughout any 12-month period.	Most Asian countries also follow WHO standards
Physical
Colour	≤15 TCU	≤15 TCU
Taste	Non objectionable/Acceptable	Non objectionable/Acceptable
Odour	Non objectionable/Acceptable	Non objectionable/Acceptable
Turbidity	‹ 5 NTU	‹ 5 NTU
Total hardness as CaCO3	< 500 mg/l	—
TDS	‹ 1000	‹ 1000
pH	6.5 – 8.5	6.5 – 8.5
Chemical
Essential Inorganic	mg/Litre	mg/Litre
Aluminium (Al) mg/1	<0.2	0.2
Antimony (Sb)	<0.005 (P)	0.02
Arsenic (As)	< 0.05 (P)	0.01	Standard for Pakistan similar to most Asian developing countries
Barium (Ba)	0.7	0.7
Boron (B)	0.3	0.3
Cadmium (Cd)	0.01	0.003	Standard for Pakistan similar to most Asian developing countries
Chloride (Cl)	<250	250
Chromium (Cr)	<0.05	0.05
Copper (Cu)	2	2
Toxic Inorganic	mg/Litre	mg/Litre
Cyanide (CN)	<0.05	0.07	Standard for Pakistan similar to Asian developing countries
Fluoride (F)*	<1.5	1.5
Lead (Pb)	<0.05	0.01	Standard for Pakistan similar to most Asian developing countries
Manganese (Mn)	< 0.5	0.5
Mercury (Hg)	<0.001	0.001
Nickel (Ni)	<0.02	0.02
Nitrate (NO3)*	<50	50
Nitrite (NO2)*	<3 (P)	3
Selenium (Se)	0.01(P)	0.01
Residual chlorine	0.2-0.5 at consumer end 0.5-1.5 at source	–
Zinc (Zn)	5.0	3	Standard for Pakistan similar to most Asian developing countries
*    indicates priority health related inorganic constituents which need regular monitoring.
Organic
Pesticides mg/L		PSQCA No. 4639-2004, Page No. 4 Table No. 3 Serial No. 20- 58 may be consulted.***
Phenolic compounds (as Phenols) mg/L		< 0.002
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (as PAH) g/L		0.01 ( By GC/MS method)
Radioactive
Alpha Emitters bq/L or pCi	0.1	0.1
Beta emitters	1	1

*** PSQCA: Pakistan Standards Quality Control Authority

Proviso:

The existing drinking water treatment infrastructure is not adequate to comply with WHO guidelines. The Arsenic concentration in South Punjab and in some parts of Sindh have been found high then Revised WHO Guidelines. It will take some time to control Arsenic through treatment process. Lead concentration in the proposed standards is higher than WHO Guidelines. As the piping system for supply of drinking water in urban centres are generally old and will take significant resources and time to get them replaced. In the recent past, Lead was completely phased out from petroleum products to cut down Lead entering into environment. These steps will enable to achieve WHO guidelines for Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium and Zinc. However, for bottled water, WHO limits for Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium and Zinc will be applicable and PSQCA Standards for all the remaining parameters.

Introduction:

Like other south Asian places, supply of less and poor quality drinking water available within the house is one of the major contributors to agony, disease and death in Pakistan. This has an adverse effect on the quality of life, like disease and death burden due to cholera, diarrhea , Typhoid, Hepatitis , Cancer and bone deformation to name a few.

Microbiological contamination related disorders have an early effect where as chemical contamination takes longer periods for the manifestation, if present in trace amounts.

This has an adverse effect on the quality of life, like

1. Agony due to disease
2. Agony of death of a dear one
3. Loss of  working  hours of  the sick and  those attending to him/ her and hence family income
4. Already malnutrition poor develop a strong competitor for food in their bellies, in the form of worms.
5. Loss of school hours and education, drop out due to poor sanitation in schools.
6. Loss of family time by mother spent on collecting water from long distances and exposure to hazards for her and the family.

This is how the need for supply of good quality drinking water becomes a strong priority issue to be resolved for our national development.

the latest development in this direction is 28 July 2010 –Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights, the General Assembly declared today, voicing deep concern that almost 900 million people worldwide do not have access to clean .water.   <http://groups.google.com/group/wash–Pakistan/browse_thread/thread/4627f74d35108cab.

The travel from Local Government ordinance 2001, schedule VI section 94’s , which mentions drinking water as “wholesome water “. Only .Wholesome is a nonspecific term and could have different meanings for different people.

We recommend defining safe drinking water as water having quality conforming to Pakistan standards and quality Control authority (PSQCA), Standard No. PS 1932, ICS No.13.06020 (second revision.)

Document in hand provides an action oriented out line for less than a decade to achieve Millennium development goal of, halving the population not having access to improved drinking water by 2015.in Pakistan.

The problem-Solution analysis presented in this document is like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. When we look at them in isolation we tend to doubt its strong relationship with the issue and solutions but we assure you when every piece falls into proper slot it will be the best available picture of the problem and solutions

Assumptions

1.    In Pakistan we may not have a supply of intentional safe drinking water , anywhere.

2.    No laboratory has the capability to completely analyze drinking water for safety in accordance with PSQCA – Standards at an affordable cost and reasonable time.

1. Only about half of the population has access to piped drinking water, which has been rarely completely tested for safety.
2. Two third of the population is drinking water of unknown quality; the only testing comes through human consumption and getting sick.
3. Getting supply of safe drinking water in accordance with PSQCA standards in one go  will  not be possible , so we  need  to settle for Improved water source* which means a source likely to provide safe water, such as house hold connection a bore hole etc.(Joint monitoring program WHO/ UNICEF)*
4. The harvest the object of this initiative is improving the quality of life of our people, we must work on safe drinking water, better sanitation and hygiene at the same time.
5. Microbiological testing of water for safety before supply is not possible (Takes 24-48 hours), so quality assurance is of importance at the water supply points, distribution system and home storage tanks.

Strategy for improving drinking water quality

For the sake of simplicity the process of achieving the goal of access to safe and enough drinking water has been divided in three phases namely

1.    Long term actions where intensive cost and will to do is involved.

2.    Short term and medium cost intensive

3.    Immediate and doable where mostly, a strong determination will be a major contributor and costs will not be heavy. It will make efficient use of existing resources vis-à-vis manpower infrastructure etc.

1.  Long Term

National water, drinking water, sanitation, and health policies are a collection of wish list. Efforts should be made to sort out some doable plan from these documents. Perhaps this is what we are trying to do now.

1.1    Local government ordinance 2001 Schedule VI section 94 defines this responsibility as “wholesome water “.  The ordinance needs amendment to clearly define drinking water quality in accordance with the government’s ministry of science and technology standards PSQCA, standard No. PS 1932, ICS No.13.06020 second revision.

1.2    Water being used for making ice should also be of similar quality.

1.3    The provider of water and ice has to make a testing arrangement.

1.4    There has to be a third party quality testing by PCRWR, PCSIR, NIH or university/ medical college Lab.

1.5    No untreated sewage water/ industrial waste water to be discharged to water bodies both fresh and ground. This needs regulations by EPA, which is there in the form of NEQS and implementation through Local government.

1.6    Hospital waste has to be properly disposed off.

1.7    Plastic shopping bags should be phased out and technology for converting used shopping bags into water, sun and sound proof sheets be developed, to get rid of this heavy non degradable material.

1.8.   Energy Savor Mercury lamps should be controlled for proper disposal; else they will be a great contamination source in water and environment.

Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)

1.6    Ministry of science and technology‘s PSQCA, standard No. PS 1932, ICS No.13.06020 second revision. To be upgraded to mandatory status from the present voluntary, like bottled water standards

1.7    MOST / PSQCA to issue standards for piping and plumbing material

1.8    Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for lying of water supply and sewerage pipes need to be documented and issued.

1.9    SOPs for making septic tanks and drainage lines to be developed and implemented

2.0  Develop local technology for Sewerage and wastewater treatment. MOST can do it in collaboration with university (HEC) and EPA.

2.1  Ministry of Environment, to phase out the use of plastic shopping bags and plastic Bottles of soft drinks / Water.

Ministry of health

3.1      Planning to start a national deworming program

3.2      Mass education to drink optimum (2.0-2.5 L for adults), of good quantity water

3.3      Washing hands with soap after the use of bath room

3.4      The hospitals to collect health data on water related diseases

3.5      Medical Officer at Tehsil Headquarter hospital to visit filtration plants, and send his report

4.0    Short term and medium cost intensive

4.1  Water billing to consumer should be related to quality and   quantity of water being supplied.

In case the water being supplied is not fit for human consumption, ministry of Local Government

4.2 The water service provider should immediately share this information with the consumer and in case of nonconformance the provider will be fined Re.1 /day / person.

4.3   Provider should regularly share quantity and quality of water being supplied to consumer.

4.4  Appointing the most capable available staff member in the department as resident in charge of the treatment plant.

4.6  Clearly writing the job description of the water supply and distribution staff

4.7  Civic bodies supplying drinking water should   arrange to take quality assurance measure at the treatment and supply sites

4.8  Documenting procedures for activities at the treatment and testing and Maintain complete records of conformance to these procedures

Note: In writing job descriptions procedures and records, author will give technical support, if needed.

5. Immediate actions

5.1          Appointing the most capable available staff member in the department as resident in charge of the treatment plant.

5.2          On job training of water supply in charge and the staff, about the Procedures of   water treatment

5.3          Training of water testing lab staff about basic analytical Procedures

5.4        Providers to share with the consumer, actions being taken in case of an uncontrollable poor quality supply.

5.5          Ensuring drinking water safety at source and encouraging consumers to hand carry this water in clean containers for drinking purpose.

Legal Cover

1. Mandatory for the provider to share the results of water sample analyzed consumers immediately and issue warning in media to the public, in case of unsafe quality tests.
2. Power connection to Drinking water supply cannot be disconnected
3. Doable actions to improve water quality should not wait for the formulation and approval of the policy.
4. Status of Pakistan drinking water standard PSQCA  No. PS 1932, ICS No.13.06020 second revision, be changed from voluntary to mandatory.
5. Water provider to be fined Re 1/ person, in case of water supply not fit for human consumption or of unknown quality.

Ministry of Special initiatives seems to be the focal point of all the activities by default.

1. Inquiry be conducted to see why filtration plants in all union councils were not installed and operative till Dec 2007. Efforts be made to overhaul this set up to function as envisaged by the project writers.

Action Plan for consumers

1. Consciously ensuring that each adult drinks 2.-2.5 L of water (about 10-12 Glass) and children adjust accordingly. Quantity of water needs adjustment according to temperature and profession .Players need more water
2. Saving water, not wasting.
3. Visiting and checking with the water provider the actions being taken to ensure providing safe water.
4. Check with the provider, date of cleaning of overhead and/or underground water storage tanks.
5. consumer to insist on seeing the latest water test report with the provider
6. Ensure that domestic water storage tanks are regularly cleaned
7. In case of more than one family member suffering from water related disease, get his water checked and start collecting water from a safe source.
8. Intermittent supply of water causes back suction of dirty water from leaking surroundings. Report leaking pipes and valve chambers.
9. Ensure that all family members wash their hands with soap after the use of bath room.
10. Ensure toilets in schools, hospitals and place of WUZOO in mosques have soap for washing hands

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene- Way Forward
Pakistan

Back ground. Creating a success story of reaching the poorest of the poor with the benefits of Safe drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene is closest to reach in Pakistan but not without unique challenges.

Of the developing world in general and south Asia in particular, the government of Pakistan is convinced of the benefits of approaching the problem in an integrated form.
It has to be seen that we are poor due to poor water; sanitation and hygiene facilities or the poor facilities are due to our poverty.

The National Scenario
Currently following steps are being taken to improve the drinking water situation in Pakistan.

1. National Drinking Water Policy (NDWP) is in the process of making for the last 7 years, it (The Draft) has gone through several public feed backs, expert discussions and government review, which has changed the shape of the document and it may be missing the target of helping nay body in the power to take steps one, two three and sort out the issue of drinking water quality and quantity to the poor consumer. The host department for this is the ministry of environment and EPA-Pak for final approval of the draft

2. National drinking water Standards (NDWS). Same fate as the NDWP, but we do have a standard document, issued by the Pakistan Standard and quality control authority (PSQCA) for reference purposes. These standards are not mandatory for the providers like the standards for the bottled drinking water in Pakistan. The problem with this aspect of development is that we cannot test all parameters mentioned in these standards under one roof at an affordable cost any where in the country. This part is with the ministry of science and technology and being contested by ministry of health and ministry of environment for ownership.

3. Filtration plants. While item 1 and 2 were being considered we knew that they are going to take time, and the poor consumer cannot be left at the mercy of unsafe health conditions, To provide immediate relief in form of safe drinking water for hand carrying to drink at home water filtration plants, 6000 in all, through out Pakistan are planned, funded and government is committed to install by Dec 2007. Ministry of industries is the current host of this initiative, after being switched from ministry of environment for being slow with the progress. This shift has further delayed the project. Plants already on ground are having serious issue in operation and maintenance.

4. National Water quality monitoring program (NWQMP). This program of sampling and analyzing drinking water from 21 cities scattered all over started since 2002 is on with the ministry of science and technology and four initial quality reports are issued. This initiative has helped Pakistan in identifying the water quality issue in Pakistan and locating some pollutants. However the reports are being released after year of sample collection and are too late.

5. Installation of new labs, up gradation of existing labs rehabilitation of water supply schemes. Are few of other initiatives with the ministry of science and technology?

Sanitation.
Attention is being diverted to this important component of health though late. Pakistan was host to second SACOSAN conference in Islamabad after participating in the first one at Dacca. This helped in highlighting the issue.
On ground situation is that there is hardly any drop of domestic waste being treated before dumping into fresh water (rivers and canals) or used for irrigating vegetable farms in perri urban area. About same is the fate of industrial waste.
Solid and hospital waste also needs attention.
This sector is in the domain of ministry of environment, Pak-EPA and an act to control these effluents and national standards are in place. National sanitation policy is also in place.
Water treatment technology suitable for the developing world is the need .The standards for treatment in the developed world are very stringent and the technology to treat up to that level is very costly. We in Pakistan may be looking for some viable solutions that we can afford.
Similarly disposal of solid and other wastes needs to be tackled scientifically

Hygiene.

Hygiene is also a neglected component of concern mainly due to illiteracy. Being a Muslim society will be of great help in this respect. Some awareness push will be of great help.

Strategy

As will be clear now some great efforts are on in the drinking water sector in Pakistan, though work on sanitation has a cover by documents and hygiene (both personal and environmental) has to take a start. They need to plan, however some tips are being presented here to start thinking process.

Campaign.

1.An integrated awareness campaign to target the poor and illiterate masses about the WatSan and hygiene issues needs to be designed and implemented. Though policy makers will be addressed through print and TV, yet the masses will be accessed through radio, preferably FM in local languages.

2. Campaign visit your water supply tank. Cleaning water reservoirs by the water providers and household tanks is an issue. This will be done through a national campaign.

3. Treating domestic waste and industrial waste before dumping to fresh and ground water will be campaigned.

Technical support

Almost all initiatives are held up due to lack of technical know how and priority at the decision makers level. They need to be supported which is a tight ropewalk, without damaging their self-respect

Planning and implementing strategy for this unique situation in Pakistan is a challenge but if we think with an open mind, we are very close to creating a success story of improving quality of life of the poor, Illiterate masses by reducing poverty, and disease.

For the national and global partners of water aid will be a great resource for developing this program for now and making use of this experience at the later stage.

Developing a resource center.

For the use of all stakeholders we will need to develop a physical resource center, collecting relevant literature, references and initiatives on water hygiene and sanitation in Pakistan and elsewhere. So that it become a hub of activity on WatSan in Pakistan and south Asia.

Initiative Activity Impact Risk
1.Awareness Campaign Messages, discussions on FM Radio Rural and perri urban poor, women students Know the important points on WatSan My scare the masses
2. South Asia center of excellence on WatSan a. Building at provincial HQs
b. Experts on
WatSan from
WaterAid
c. Syllabus to teach and practice
We get indigenous water treatment technology.
Trained supervisors, technicians, engineers and lab staff oratory WA works with the partners.

May not get an effective partner

3.Resource center Providing a room, and start collecting material Acts as a hub of activity
Shares knowledge and experience
Avoids duplication
Provides base for the center of excellence.
Training of existing staff May be a problem to organize the material in way so that it is readily available for consultation.

Conference room may be too busy at times, to manage.

Ralevent Links

www.waterinfo.net.pk
Government of Pakistan Ministry of Water & Power
UNICEF Pakistan water and sanitation Projects


Link to safe drinking water group in Pakistan