KARACHl: Many city areas are set to face an acute water shortage following an early morning power breakdown at the Dhabeji pumping station, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) said on Sunday.
A KWSC spokesperson said that the electricity disruption caused a shortfall of around 200 million gallons per day (MGD), leaving many parts of the metropolis without water.
He said power supply to several phases of the pumping station was suspended at 6am due to a cable fault in K-Electric’s system and was restored late at night.
‘Power breakdown suspended supply to the third phase, fourth phase, and K-3 Pump House at Dhabeji,’ he said, adding that due to the breakdown, 10 out of 21 pumps were currently non-functional.
‘The affected pumps will be made operational immediately once power is restored at Dhabeji,’ the KWSC said, appealing to citizens to avoid unnecessary water use.
The spokesperson added that water supply to the affected areas would be restored as soon as power was restored.
However, a spokesperson for the KE said that a fire in bushes near the Dhabeji Pumping Complex affected KWSC cables, disrupting power supply.
‘A technical team is present at the site and remains in constant coordination with KWSC officials for early restoration of power supply, he added.
Later in the evening, the KWSC spokesperson said that the power supply was restored after 17 hours and it caused a total shortfall of 198 MGD.