CHARSADDA: The drinking water crisis has deepened in Charsadda district, where 52 out of 168 public tube wells operated by the public health engineering department and tehsil municipal administrations have remained dysfunctional since long, depriving 2,953 households of regular water supply.
Official figures show that the 168 tube wells provide water connections to more than 9,543 households across the district, including 29pc in urban areas and 71pcin rurallocalities.
However, the prolonged closure of nearly one-third of these facilities has added to the difficulties of thousands of residents already facing an acute shortage of clean drinking water.
The situation has been further aggravated by the deterio-rating condition of water supply pipelines, particularly in municipal committee areas.
Most of these pipelines were reportedlylaid duringthe1980s and 1990s and have become outdated, with several sections damaged or leaking.
Residents fear that sewage and contaminated water may be seeping into the broken supply lines, particularly where pipelines pass through or near open drains.
They say households are often left with no alternative but to use the available water despite concerns about its quality and safety.
The deteriorating water supply system has raised serious public health concerns, with residentsfearing an increase in waterborne diseases, including gastrointestinalinfections.
The absence of regular water quality testing and maintenance has further heightenedpublic anxiety.
Although traditional wells have largely been replaced by boreholes in many parts of the district, a considerable number of households continue to depend on public tube wells for their daily water requirements.
The closure of these facilities has forced many families, particularly those belonging to low-income groups, to fetch water from distant sources or purchase it at additional expense.
Sources said that outstanding water bills amounting to over Rs70 million were payable by consumers to the public health engineering department.
The accumulated arrears have reportedly contributed to financial constraints, affecting repair and maintenance activities and delaying the restoration of dysfunctional tube wells.
Social workers Tariq Jan,Amjad Ali, Junaid Khan and Nasir Ali expressed concern over the deteriorating drinking water infrastructure and said access to clean water was a basic human necessity that could not be ignored by the relevant authorities.
They said the prolonged closure of public tube wells and the deteriorating condition of underground pipelines had exposed thousands of residents to serious difficulties and potential health risks.
They urged the relevant authorities to take immediate measures to restore all dysfunctional tube wells, replace damaged pipelines and ensure regular laboratory testing of drinking water.
The social workers also called for a comprehensive assessment of the existing water supply network to identify vulnerable points and prevent sewage contamination.