KARACHI: Several areas of Karachi may experience a disruption in water supply after a power failure at the Dhabeji pumping station rendered 10 of its 21 pumps inoperative, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation (KWSC) said.
According to the KWSC, the electricity breakdown affected the third phase, fourth phase and K-3 Pump House at Dhabeji, bringing 10 pumping units to a halt.
The utility warned that the suspension of these pumps could lead to a partial reduction in water supplies to different parts of the city.
KWSC officials were coordinating with K-Electric (KE) to restore the power supply. The corporation said the affected pumping units would be brought back online immediately after electricity was restored.
The KWSC also urged citizens to conserve water and avoid unnecessary consumption until normal supplies resume.
A KE spokesperson said the power disruption was caused by a cable fault after a fire broke out in bushes near the pumping station. A technical team was deployed at the site and was working with KWSC officials to resolve the issue and restore electricity as soon as possible.
Dhabeji has experienced several disruptions in recent months. On July 27, a breakdown at the pumping station caused a water shortfall of 48 million gallons, affecting parts of North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Gulberg Town, New Karachi, Landhi, Korangi and Scheme 33.
Earlier in July, an electricity outage affected the K-2 Pump House at Dhabeji after faults developed in its manifold chamber and main valves. Three major pumps were temporarily taken offline as a result.
On June 1, a fault in KE’s main cable disrupted electricity to the Hub Pumping Station, reducing Karachi’s water supply by around 85 million gallons per day (MGD), according to the KWSC.
The disruption came a day after the city had faced a 122 MGD water shortfall following an electricity failure at the North East Karachi Pumping Station caused by a fault in KE’s main cable.
On May 30, another emergency shutdown at Dhabeji forced 10 of the station’s 21 pumping units out of service, further affecting the city’s water distribution network.
