Arsenic contamination raises alarm over groundwater safety in S Punjab

MULTAN - Arsenic contamination in groundwater has emerged as a growing concern in parts of southern Punjab, with tests in Layyah and Muzaffargarh districts recording concentrations above permissible levels and raising concerns over the safety of communities dependent on untreated groundwater. The colourless and odourless contaminant can remain undetected in drinking water, leaving people who rely on hand pumps and tube wells particularly vulnerable in rural areas where safer alternative supplies are limited. Two killed, two injured in gold mining dispute in Kohat Water experts have described arsenic exposure as a serious long-term public-health concern and stressed the need for regular testing, effective filtration and greater awareness among communities dependent on groundwater. Muzaffargarh district comprises three tehsils, Muzaffargarh, Alipur and Jatoi, with a population of 3,528,567. Muhammad Ghazanfar, research officer for Water Purification Management in Layyah and Muzaffargarh districts, said that when the three tehsils were considered together with present-day Kot Addu, formerly part of Muzaffargarh district, arsenic had been detected in around 20 to 25 per cent of water samples tested over the past three years. PUTA criticizes administration as Peshawar University faces salary crisis He said arsenic concentrations in affected areas had reached around 80 to 100 micrograms per litre, equivalent to approximately 80 to 100 parts per billion (ppb), levels that could pose a serious health concern if the water was consumed over a prolonged period. 'Water containing arsenic may look perfectly normal,' Ghazanfar said, explaining that the contaminant was colourless and odourless and could not reliably be detected by looking at, smelling or tasting the water. He stressed that laboratory testing was therefore essential, particularly for communities relying on groundwater as their main source of drinking water. Rescue 1122 steps up fire-safety training at DIK institutions In Layyah, arsenic contamination had been detected in different parts of the district, with contamination reported in up to 30 per cent of tested water sources, Ghazanfar said. The highest concentration recorded in some areas was around 120 ppb. The level is significantly higher than the World Health Organisation's guideline value of 10 ppb for arsenic in drinking water. Pakistan's permissible limit is 50 ppb, making testing and appropriate treatment particularly important where concentrations exceed either benchmark. Teenager's alleged suicide turns out to be murder Long-term exposure to arsenic-contaminated drinking water has been associated with serious health effects, including characteristic skin changes and an increased risk of several cancers, making prolonged exposure a significant public-health concern. The burden is particularly difficult for low-income households, many of whom cannot afford bottled or treated water on a daily basis. Shehbaz, a sanitary worker associated with the Suthra Punjab programme, described the dilemma faced by such households. Namak Mandi keeps Peshawar's culinary tradition alive 'We cannot afford bottled water every day. We depend on the hand pump or tube well available near our homes,' he said. The issue is not confined to Layyah and Muzaffargarh. National assessments have also indicated the presence of arsenic in groundwater sources across parts of Punjab and Sindh. The Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) has reported that a national assessment of 45,920 groundwater sources in Punjab and Sindh found 7,025 sources contaminated with arsenic. According to PCRWR, concentrations above the WHO guideline of 10 ppb put around 13 per cent of the population at risk, while concentrations exceeding Pakistan's permissible limit of 50 ppb affect an estimated three per cent of the population. Earlier national investigations had also highlighted the scale of the problem. PCRWR reported that a survey of around 34,000 water sources in 61 districts found 15 per cent of assessed sources in Punjab and Sindh unsafe because of excessive arsenic when measured against the WHO guideline. International development organisations have also supported efforts to address the issue. The United Nations Development Programme has backed community-level initiatives involving arsenic-removal technologies, while earlier programmes involving UNDP and UNICEF in Punjab and Sindh focused on water, sanitation and the removal of arsenic from drinking-water supplies at schools. Such initiatives have highlighted the importance of testing individual water sources, as contamination levels can vary significantly from one locality to another and testing a single source may not accurately represent conditions across an entire village. The challenge for affected districts, therefore, is not only to identify contaminated sources but also to provide communities with reliable access to safe drinking water. Ghazanfar said the Punjab government had taken the issue seriously and was working towards a province-wide approach involving the installation of water-purification plants in districts to provide safer drinking water. In Muzaffargarh, around 75 water-filtration plants were already functioning, particularly in areas where groundwater contamination had been identified, he said. Although some areas were still awaiting filtration facilities, the expansion of such infrastructure could help reduce communities' dependence on untreated groundwater, particularly where testing has identified contamination. Water authorities and experts continue to emphasise regular monitoring because groundwater quality can vary considerably between neighbouring localities. For communities in Layyah and Muzaffargarh, regular testing, reliable filtration facilities, public awareness and sustained monitoring remain key measures for reducing exposure to arsenic and improving access to safe drinking water. Tags: arseniccontaminationraisesalarm