The Punjab Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA) is preparing to introduce a major environmental reform by making recharge wells mandatory for all newly constructed homes across the province. The proposed policy aims to replenish declining groundwater reserves, improve water quality, and reduce contamination caused by rapid urbanization.
WASA Director General Tayyab Fareed said the proposal will be presented for formal approval at the authority’s upcoming meeting. If approved, the regulation will become an important step toward sustainable water management as Punjab continues to face growing pressure on its groundwater resources.
The announcement comes alongside the expansion of Punjab’s newly established WASA network, which now includes 41 Water and Sanitation Agencies working to improve access to clean drinking water and modern sanitation services across the province. To strengthen operations, WASA has already procured 272 modern vehicles, while the acquisition of another 969 machines and specialized equipment is currently underway.
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The authority is also implementing Rs. 205 billion worth of development projects in 15 major cities, including Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Gujrat, Jhelum, Jhang, Hafizabad, Okara, Nankana Sahib, Sahiwal, and Dera Ghazi Khan. These initiatives focus on upgrading water supply systems, expanding sewerage networks, and reducing urban flooding.
As part of the first phase of the Punjab Development Programme, authorities plan to install 2,265 kilometers of sewerage lines, construct 89 disposal stations, build nine underground water storage tanks, and develop 189 kilometers of storm-water drains. The program also includes extensive road rehabilitation and paving projects.
If implemented, the mandatory recharge well policy could become a significant milestone in protecting Punjab’s groundwater resources while promoting sustainable urban development for future generations.
