Three major water supply lines at the Dhabeji Pumping Station were damaged on Monday after a sudden power breakdown, resulting in a significant water shortage of around 140 million gallons per day (MGD) in Karachi.
According to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation, the incident occurred when three 72-inch transmission mains were affected following an unexpected power outage at approximately 2:30 pm. Officials explained that the sudden shutdown created back pressure in the system, which ultimately led to the bursting of two PRCC pipelines and one MS line.
The disruption severely impacted the second phase of the Dhabeji pumping system, which is one of the city’s primary water supply sources. Authorities warned that the breakdown temporarily reduced water availability across Karachi, intensifying supply challenges for residents.
A spokesperson for KWSC stated that repair work is already underway, and one of the affected pipelines is expected to be restored by Tuesday. Once Line-5 becomes operational again, the overall shortfall is likely to decrease to between 50 MGD and 60 MGD, offering partial relief to the city’s water supply situation.
Officials also highlighted that repeated and unannounced power failures have been a persistent issue, causing frequent operational disruptions and damaging critical infrastructure. These outages have not only affected water distribution but have also increased maintenance and repair costs for the department.
Meanwhile, K-Electric confirmed that a cable fault was responsible for the power disruption at the pumping station. However, the company clarified that electricity supply remained functional for 18 out of 22 motors, while the remaining units were being powered through alternative arrangements.
The incident has once again raised concerns over infrastructure resilience and coordination between utility providers in Karachi’s water and power systems.
Also Read: Many Karachi Areas to Face Serious Water Shortage
