Effects of untreated sewage on marine environment-A case study of Karachi

Author(s)

Dr. Asif Ali Abro , Dr. Naveed Wahid Awan , Dr. Muhammad Ali Pasha Panhwar ,

Download Full PDF Pages: 147-157 | Views: 390 | Downloads: 134 | DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4286989

Volume 4 - October 2020 (10)

Abstract

The objective of the paper was to identify the impact of untreated municipal sewage on the marine environment along the coast of Karachi. Karachi, the financial capital of Pakistan, is facing a serious sanitation and sewage crisis. About 471 million gallon per day (MGD) of municipal wastewater is discharged into the sea without treatment. It produces over 12,000 tons of solid waste every day and about sixty percent of solid waste is dumped in designated landfills and remaining solid waste remains in the streets and roads.  Results concluded that heavy discharge of untreated municipal wastewater into Arabian Sea; deteriorate the coastal areas of Karachi, production of marine fisheries become sluggish, high risk to human health and extinction of four types of mangrove forests. It was observed that the average annual growth rate of marine fish catch remained 0.68 percent during 2000-19 which is a very a nominal growth rate. Whereas, the average annual growth rate of inland fish catch remained 3.55 percent during the same period. The habitat on the Gizri stream, Manora Island, Clifton and Sea view beaches have been deteriorated and most of the territories of these reservoirs are deprived of a congenial environment. Marine life is contaminated with lead and consumption of seafood by people can cause a health hazard for the residents of the city. In order to solve the biggest sewage problem in Karachi, it is recommended that the projects initiated under the Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan be implemented as a priority, and efforts should be made to functionalize all treatment plants at earliest. It is necessary to create an independent high-power committee to monitor the future wastewater flow into the Arabian Sea and hold them responsible for not fulfilling their statutory role in managing the sewage system for the collection, pumping, treatment and disposal of domestic and industrial waste.

Keywords

Extinction, Hazardous, Mangroves, Marine pollution, Municipal sewage, Solid waste 

References

                    i.            Ahmad, F., M.T. Javed., M.A. Sandhu and R. Kausar. 2004. Effects of higher levels of chromium and Copper on broiler health and performance during the peak tropical summer season. VeterinarskiArhiv 74:395-408.

                  ii.            Blaettler, K.G. 2018. The Effects of Sewage on Aquatic Ecosystems. Sciencing.com, https://sciencing.com/effects-sewage-aquatic-ecosystems-21773.html.28November, 2018.

                iii.            Ebrahim, Z. 2012. Karachi Gripped by Extortionists. IPSInter Press Service News Agency.http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/09/karachi-gripped-by-extortionists/

                 iv.            Fawell, J.K., U. Lund and B. Mintz. 1996. Guidelines for drinking-water quality. Vol2, Health criteria and other supporting information (2ndEds). World Health Organization, Geneva.

                   v.            Frauchiger, M.T., C. Wenk and P. C. Colombani. 2004. Effect of acute chromium supplementation on postprandial metabolism in healthy young men. J AmCollNutr 23: 351-357.

                 vi.            Friess, D.A., M.H. Aung., C. Lovelock., N. Mukherjee and S. Sasmito.2019. Sustainable Development Goals: Their Impacts on Forests and People, SDG 14: Life below Water-Impact on Mangroves. Cambridge University Press pp 445-481.

               vii.            Frisbie, S.H., R.Ortega and D.M. Maynard. 2002. The concentration of Arsenic and other Toxic elements in Bangladesh’s drinking water. Environ Health Prospect 110:1147-1153.

             viii.            Government of Pakistan.1997. Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997.

                 ix.            Government of Pakistan. 2018. Year Book-2017-18, Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Maritime Affairs Division, Islamabad.

                   x.            Government of Sindh. 2017. Sindh Solid Waste Management Board Act, 2014, Local Government Department, Government of Sindh.

                 xi.            Government of Sindh. 1996. Karachi Water & Sewerage Board Act 1996, Local Government Department, Government of Sindh.

               xii.            Hasan, A. 1999. Understanding Karachi-Planning and Reform for the Future, City Press, Karachi, Pakistan.

             xiii.            Hasan, A and M. Mohib. 2003. Understanding slums: Case studies for the global report. The case of Karachi, Pakistan.

             xiv.            Janus, J.A and E.I. Krajnc. 1990. Integrated criteria document chromium: effects. Appendix. Bilthoven, Netherlands, national institute of public health and environmental protection.

               xv.            Jilani, S. 2007. Municipal solid waste composting and its assessment for reuse in plant production. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 39 (1), 271-77.

             xvi.            KCCI. 2018. A study of Karachi’s garbage crisis turning the city of lights into city of trash. Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Research & Development Department.

           xvii.            KSDP-2020. 2007. Karachi Strategic Development Plan-2020, Master Plan Group of Offices, City District Government Karachi (CDGK).

         xviii.            Khan, M.J., S. Sarwar and R.A. Khattak 2004. Evaluation of River Jhelum water for heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cd, Pb, and Cr) and its suitability for irrigation and drinking purpose at district Muzaffarabad (A.K). J Chem Soc Pak 26: 436-444.

             xix.            Khuhro, H and A. Mooraj. 1997. Karachi-Megacity of our Times, Oxford University Press, Karachi, Pakistan.

               xx.            KWSB.2018. Greater Karachi Sewerage Plan (S-III) Revised Planning Commission-I form, Local Government Department, Government of Sindh.

             xxi.            Nadeem-ul-Haq, M.A. Arain., Z. Haque., N. Badar and N. Mughal. 2009. Drinking water contamination by chromium and lead in industrial lands of Karachi. J Pak Med Assoc 59: 270-274.

           xxii.            MFF Pakistan. 2016. A Handbook on Pakistan’s Coastal and Marine Resources. MFF Pakistan, Pakistan. 21, 25, 28 pp.

         xxiii.            Memon, N.A. 2012. Export of fish and fish products: China and Middle East are main Markets. Exclusive on Fish, May-June 2012.

          xxiv.            Naqvi, S. 2006. How safe is the Water we Drink, Daily Dawn pp.4-7.

            xxv.            Qureshi, S.K.2005. Background Paper# 8by Khurram Shahid‘Drinking water and sanitation sector Review of policies and performance and future options for improving service delivery country water resources assistancestrategy’.

          xxvi.            Rafique, M.U. and S.A.H. Shah. 2019. Environmental Degradation in Indian Ocean: The Dilemma of Marine Pollution in Pakistan Coastline. Progressive Research Journal of Arts & Humanities (PRJAH). Vol-1 issue-1:16-27http://prjah.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2

        xxvii.            Sabir, W., N. Waheed., A. Afzal., S.M. Umer and S. Rehman. 2016. A Study of Solid Waste Management in Karachi City. Journal of Education & Social Sciences, Vol. 4(2): 151-163, 2016. DOI:10.20547/jess0421604205.

      xxviii.            Shahid, M and Y. Nergis. 2014. Environmental impact of municipal solid waste in Karachi city. World Applied Sciences Journal, 29 (12), 1516-26.

          xxix.            Shahzad, A., M.A. Khan., S.S. Shaukat and W. Ahmed. 2009. Chemical pollution profile of Rehri creek area, Karachi (Sindh). J ChemSoc Pak 31:592–600.

            xxx.            Vikas, M and G.S Dwarakish. 2015. Coastal Pollution: A Review.Published by Elsevier B.V -2214-241X © 2015, Aquatic Procedia 4 (2015) 381 – 388.

          xxxi.            World Bank. 2005. Pakistan country water resources assistance strategy water economy: Runningdry.

Cite this Article: