4th International Conference: Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESDev-2011)

July 24-26, 2011.

IMPROVED SANITATION FACILITY IN FLOOD AFFECTED AREA AT D. G KHAN,

PUNJAB PAKISTAN: CASE STUDY
Ihsanullah Khan,* Asim Yaqub**, Daud Jan * and M. Bilal Khan ***
*WASH Engineer, ***WASH Coordinator
Save the Children US, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
+92 333 9849249
**Civil Engineering Department
Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS. Bandar Seri Iskandar Tronoh 31750 Perak, Malaysia.
Correspondence email: ihsan_khan_mrd@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
After 2010 flood sanitation system and water quality of D. G Khan District were badly affected. This
study was undertaken to improve the sanitation facilities in flood affected area of D. G Khan. Before
intervention of drainage project, health and sanitation situation was very much bad. Sewer water
overflowed and accumulated in ponds in-front of households. This was creating the conditions for the
spread of malaria and caused fecal contamination to drinking water resources. After the improvement
of sanitation system different points for drinking water were provided in the area. Water quality
analysis of all the points showed significant results with in the range of drinking water quality
standards.
Key words: Sanitation, health, flood 2010, D. G Khan.
Introduction
Heavy Monsoon rains were started in early August 2010 caused floods and damages in different parts
of Pakistan. Most of the districts were affected among the under developed areas of Pakistan. D.G
Khan is one of them where houses, lands and public infrastructure were severely affected by these
floods and many areas became inaccessible by road [1]. Based on data from the Pakistan
Meteorological Department 220 mm rain were recorded in D. G Khan during the four day wet spell
from 27 July to 30 July [2]. According to Natural Resource Division (PARC) of Pakistan more than
0.40 million acres land use area of DG Khan were affected during 2010 flood [3].
Sanitation was the invisible problem in 2010 flood disaster all over the Pakistan. Poor sanitation and
unhygienic water supply system were the major causes of communal diseases and fecal contamination
[4]. World Health Organization reported that ten million people were forced to drink unsafe water all
over in Pakistan. Poor sanitation has a number of documented adverse impacts leading to disease and
premature death, polluted water resources, time loss from daily activities, degraded environment, and
lost opportunities for the use of human excreta for energy or fertilizer production [5]. Sanitation
facilities (including sewerage in urban areas and drainage in rural areas) are available to only about 42
per cent of the total population, including 65 per cent in urban areas and 30 per cent in rural
settlements. With the exception of a few big cities, the sewerage service is almost non-existent, causing
serious public health problems. Nearly 45 per cent of all households do not have access to a latrine. It
should be recognized that good water supply and sanitation services are a pre-condition for better
public health, a higher productivity and a better quality of life [6].
The water supply and sanitation sector needs to be reformed in order to enable Pakistan to achieve
MDG 7. In turn, meeting the Millennium development Goals (MDG) will have a direct and significant
environmental impact and reduce the burden of disease. Specific measures could include (i) enhancing
competitiveness among urban WS&S schemesthrough public-private partnerships, by tightly
demarcating natural monopolies, and encouraging [7].
The objective of the intervention was constructing a drainage line to remove the stagnant black and
grey water in front of the households.
Methodology
Study area
D.G. Khan is located 96 km west of Multan on the western side of Indus River at a distance of about 15
km. The Indus Highway by-passes the city. Climatically, the area is in an arid zone having an average
annual rainfall of no more than 125 mm. The summers are very hot and the winters are mild to cold.

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4th International Conference: Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESDev-2011)

July 24-26, 2011.

The temperature generally ranges between 13 to 50 C. The area is categorized as barani, in general,
because the western side of the city receives hill torrents of this area (Sulaiman Range).
On the western side of the city, the Dera Ghazi Khan Canal flows beyond the Lahore-Quetta Railway
lines and on the northern side, the Manka seepage drain defines the boundary of the city. On the
southern side the road to Kot Addu and in the southeast the road to Taunsa form the boundaries of the
city area.
D.G. Khan is the headquarters of the Tehsil of the same name. The Dera Ghazi Khan Tehsil has a
population of around 1.3 million. The Tehsil has 46 Unions. The urban areas encompass 7 unions, each
with a population of approximately 27,000 inhabitants (census data of 1998). Thus, the total urban
population of Dera Ghazi Khan City was around 190,000 (according to the census data of 1998). The
TMA estimates the present population of the city to be approximately 357,000 and the growth rate
3.67% per annum (average growth rate 1981-1998).
Water Analysis
Water quality parameters like color, taste, ph, turbidity, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, iron, manganese,
zinc, arsenic, TDS and microbial analysis were tested for the water points that installed after the flood.
Results and Discussion
Drainage system of the study area was badly damage by the 2010 flood as shown in fig 1 before the
intervention of the drainage system. The sewers were overflow frequently and suffer from poor
operation and maintenance. So this was creating the conditions for the spread of diarrhea, shigellosis
and also cholera that are endemic in this area. The stagnant water was a breeding site of mosquitoes
and other flies which was not only causing the visual nuisance but also presenting a pool of malarial
diseases. These issues solved by provision of drainage system. The community was involved in the
decision making and they were willing to have this improved sanitation facility. All the members of
benefiting communities were welcoming this participatory approach towards improved sanitation.
Key Factors of Success
The community was in a situation that they were ready to accept this intervention because the people
were in need of the facility. The community was sensitized to an extent that they welcome this
intervention. The outlet for the stagnant water was channelized to a water course where the grey water
could be easily used for the cultivation of the non vegetable crops.

Before intervention.
After intervention
Figure1. Shows the study area before and after intervention.
Main Obstacles
Various national and international humanitarian organizations were working on relief activities lead to
the absence of the community members during distribution of non food items. The various
organizations engaged the volunteers and the activities were slowed down for a day or two. The arising
conflicts and defiance between the members of the households lead to delayed activities in solving
these conflicts.

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4th International Conference: Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESDev-2011)

July 24-26, 2011.

Water quality after intervention

The old water sources of the study area were found completely contaminated with especially coliforms
before intervention. Different points were provided for safe dirking water at Basti Doraywala, Basti
Chountraywala, Basti Chotray Wala, Basti Dhoori wala, CFS (Child friendly spaces) Chountrawala of
the Union council Jhakar Imam Shah. Results shows that color and taste of water at all points were
satisfactory. While microbial results at Basti Chotray Wala point were unsatisfactory. All other points
were safe for drinking pH was in neutral range and turbidity below 5 NTU. All the physico-chemical
results of all the points were in the range of drinking water quality standards as shown in table 1.
Table 1: Shows the physico-chemical analysis of drinking water locations provided by the project
Chloride
Flouride
Nitrate
Iron
Manganese
Zinc
TDS
Location
(ppm)
(ppm)
(ppm)
(ppm)
(ppb)
(ppm)
(ppt)
Basti
150
Doraywala
Basti
40
Chountraywala
Basti
75.0
Chotray Wala
Basti
60.0
Dhoori wala
*
CFS
30
Chountrawala
*
CFS: (Child friendly spaces)

1.2

8.8

0.5>

25

1.5

1.3

1.2

13.2

0.5>

25

1.5

0.6

1.5

8.8

0.5>

15

0.8

1.4

4.4

0.5>

30

0.5

0.7

1.2

22

0.5>

25

1.5

0.7

Conclusion
This improved sanitation facility was found very effective in terms of unity of the community because
a participatory approach was used. This approach was so successful that lead to need of more facilities
because before the intervention the community was unaware of the dreadful outcomes and the possible
waterborne diseases. Now they realized that improved sanitation is one of the important components
for the improvement of their health. In this way a glimpse of behavior change was observes when the
community demanded the same facility for the whole village.
References
1. Save the Children (2010). Rapid Assessment Report of Flood-Affected Communities in
D.G. Khan District, Punjab, Pakistan. Monitoring, Evaluation and Accountability Unit.
2.

http://www.pakmet.com.pk/FFD/index_files/rainfalljuly10.htm

3.

PARC, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (2010). Preliminary Assessment of 2010

Flood Impacts in Pakistan: Extent and Coverage of Impacts and Adaptation Strategy.

4.

Khan I, Yaqub A, Awais M, Asim H, Jamshed R and Farid I.A.. (2011).Monitoring of Fecal
Coliforms in Drinking Water Sources of Tehsil Mardan, Pakistan. Pakistan J. Zool., vol.
43(3), pp. 600-601.

5.

Water and Sanitation program, (2008). Economic Impact of sanitation on south East Asia.

6.

PCRWR and UNICEF (2009) Water Safety Plans for Community Water Supply: A
resource manual.

7.

Asian Development Bank. ADB, (2008). Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Country environment
analysis.

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