LAHORE Pakistan’s water crisis is a reality that is crippling agriculture, industry and households alike. Planners must press for reuse of urban wastewater for agriculture in safely used globally but largely ignored at home.
Ours is a water scarce nation with per capita water availability now below 1,000 cubic metres. According to recent studies, Pakistan treats barely 1.0 per cent of its wastewater. The rest flows untreated into rivers, canals and fields, contaminating food supplies and ecosystems. Yet paradoxically, this untreated water is already being used on over 32,000 hectares of farmland, producing an estimated 26 per cent of the vegetables consumed in urban areas. Farmers turn to wastewater not out of choice, but necessity; it is readily available and rich in nutrients, reducing the need for expensive fertilisers.
Globally, countries like Spain, Mexico and the United States have turned wastewater reuse into a standard component of water management. If Pakistan could reclaim even half of its untreated effluent, experts estimate that 3-4 million acre-feet of water could be added annually to its irrigation supply -- enough to transform agricultural productivity and reduce pressure on depleting groundwater reserves. In Pakistan where agriculture consumes over 90 per cent of freshwater resources, reclaiming wastewater is not just an option; it is a necessity for survival.
Farmers in peri-urban areas rely heavily on untreated wastewater because it offers a steady supply and boosts yields due to its nutrient content. Employment opportunities also grow, making wastewater a lifeline for many farming families.
But this benefit comes at a steep price. Untreated wastewater contains pathogens, pesticides, and heavy metals that contaminate vegetables and fruits. A recent study in Punjab found that the health costs of food-borne illnesses caused by such contamination exceed Rs12 billion annually. Over time, wastewater irrigation without treatment degrades soil, salinizes farmland, and pollutes groundwater.
The solution is not to ban wastewater use, which would devastate thousands of farmers, but to treat it and integrate it safely into agricultural systems. Pakistan can follow a multi-pronged strategy. Instead of relying solely on massive, centralised wastewater plants that take years to build, Pakistan should promote low-cost, decentralised systems like constructed wetlands, Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBR), and Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors (MBBR). Pilot projects at education institutions have demonstrated that these systems can produce water safe for irrigation.
A robust framework is needed to ensure wastewater used in farming meets National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS). Regular testing of water and soil should be mandatory, especially in peri-urban farming belts where untreated sewage dominates. Training programs and community-level awareness campaigns can teach safe handling practices, such as using drip irrigation to minimize direct crop contamination.
Industrial waste should be treated at the source to prevent hazardous substances from entering municipal sewage streams. Without this step, even advanced treatment systems cannot make water safe for agriculture. Properly managed wastewater systems can create additional revenue streams. Nutrients in sludge can be processed into fertilizers, while methane generated during treatment can be harnessed as biogas. Globally, such systems have proven cost-effective and even profitable.
Pakistan’s water management policies have historically focused on building more dams and canals. While infrastructure is vital, it will not solve the looming crisis if wastewater continues to flow untreated into the environment. The government should set clear national targets for wastewater reuse, aiming for at least 20-30 per cent treatment and reuse within a decade.
Development agencies and donor organisations have long highlighted wastewater reuse as one of the cheapest ways to conserve water; Pakistan should finally act on that advice. Finances for this purpose can be arranged from them
If Pakistan continues its current trajectory, untreated wastewater will remain a major public health hazard and environmental threat. But with modest investment, strong regulation, and community engagement, it could become one of the country’s most valuable resources.
