Project Breif

“Conserving Indus River Water Quality through Pollution Source Tracking, Economical Treatment Systems, and Water Circular Economy”

An integrated approach based on pollution source tracking (modern techniques for water quality assessment using chemical and biological markers), nature-based treatment solution, and promotion of water circular economy to conserve Indus river’s water quality is proposed here.

The specific objectives are (i) To assess the temporal and spatial water quality of the Indus River using modern techniques for emerging contaminants; (ii) To track microbial and chemical sources in five major communities located along the river; (iii) To prepare preliminary design schemes for economic wastewater treatment systems; (iv) To estimate economic and environmental cost and to assess benefits by adopting water circular approach, (v) To assess health damage cost due to wastewater discharge into the Indus River, (vi) To develop a strategic action plan for applying water circular economy for different communities in urban and rural settings.

The circular economy concept is becoming popular in contrast to the conventional resources use an approach of “take, make, consume, waste.” The water circular economy framework emphasizes key actions necessary to achieve three outcomes: i) deliver resilient and inclusive services; ii) design out waste and pollution; and iii) preserve and regenerate natural systems. In the proposed study, results from pollution source tracking will be used to identify major urban and industrial establishments where the adoption of water circular economy is required. The framework of the water circular economy will be prepared for selected communities. Centralized treatment systems are not always appropriate due to water conveyance costs requirements and high operational costs, and inefficient treatment efficiencies due to lack of technical expertise. Nature-based on-site treatment systems should be considered as an alternative economical treatment solution.

A survey of the major seventeen (17) barrages and four (4) dams will be conducted to select sampling sites. Temporal and spatial water analysis will be conducted for microbial and emerging pollutants. At least five (5) major cities will be targeted for survey and sampling. Sampling exercises will be performed at the main drains carrying combined industrial and domestic wastewater into the river. The detailed scenario assessment and point/non-point source tracking and mapping will be performed based on the identified CST and MST markers across the River Indus. Frameworks for a water circular economy will be prepared for five selected communities located along the Indus river, representing rural and urban settings. The proposed activities in the framework will be an identification of reclaimed water sources, optimizing, rehabilitation, and expansion plans for existing infrastructure, consideration of climate impacts, solar- or wind-based energy for the operation of a treatment plant, bio-gas as fuel to reduce sources, optimizing, rehabilitation, and expansion plans for existing infrastructure, consideration of climate impacts, wastewater treatment reuse option in agriculture, landscaping, industries, nutrient recover for agriculture use, identification of possibilities to use nature-based treatment system, in-house reuse and recycling with industries, promoting waste to resource for industrial symbiosis.

In addition, a cost-benefit analysis and cost-valuation analysis will be performed for energy intensive and nature-based treatment systems for the selected design. A health risk assessment, disease burden, and healthcare cost estimation study will be conducted to determine health damage costs due to wastewater discharge into the Indus river and associated health benefits for the scenario if the water circular approach is adopted. The proposed research will provide a status report on the water quality of the Indus River system using modern microbial and chemical source tracking. The report will base the national action plan for retrofitting existing treatment plants, sector-wise industrial action plan for in-house pollution reduction, and water circular economy interventions.

The recommendation will be promoted to the national audience (policymakers) to develop a modern strategy for environmental improvement. USPCASW i) will plan and execute microbial and chemical source tracking in collaboration with WAPDA and WASA ii) will develop, analyze, test, and validate the efficacy of the treatment and reuse systems and technological solutions in collaboration with relevant industrial partners from Textile, Sugar and Agriculture iii) will prepare strategic framework supporting the water circular economy and services delivery, and vi) dissemination of the outcomes in collaboration with partners. The WASA and WAPDA will facilitate the planning, development, and execution of water system tracking, economic valuation, and overall water circular economy framework.