Water Resources Research Centre (WRRC), Quetta

Functions:

To develop strategy to improve and recharge centuries old indigenous karez system and its interaction with delay action dams To study the siltation and sedimentation problems in the delay action dams; To conduct studies and develop strategies for the conjunctive use of surface and groundwater; To develop methods techniques for the artificial recharge of the aquifers; To analyze the water quality status of surface and groundwater; To study the water utilization policies with respect to socio-economic aspects of the area; To study and identify the development of mini-hydel power systems; To conduct lysimetric studies to establish the water requirements of orchards etc; To study and promote local participation in the adoption of cooperative system regarding use of water.

Facilities

Library

The Centre houses a small library, containing books and reports on groundwater recharge, watershed management, desertification control and soil management etc.

Water Quality Laboratory

The Centre has a well equipped water quality laboratory, with qualified trained staff to carry out the analysis task. The laboratory of the Centre has the capability to analyse the following water quality (drinking, irrigation, waste water) parameters:Alkalinity, Aluminum, Antimony, Ammonia, Arsenic, Barium, Bicarbonate, Boron, Cadmium, Calcium, Carbonate, COD, Copper, Chloride, Chromium, Cobalt, Colour, Conductivity, DO, Fluoride, Free CO2, Free Chlorine, Hardness, Iodide, Iron, Lead, Lithium, Manganese, Magnesium, Mercury, Nickel, Nitrate (N), Nitrite (as NO2), Odour, pH, Phosphorus, Phosphate, Potassium, Selenium, Silicon, Silver, Sodium, Strontium, Sulphate, Suspended Solids, Taste, Tin, Total Chlorine, TDS, TSS, Turbidity, Zinc, Coliform and E. Coli

Field Research Station

A field research station has been established on 8 acres of land near Agricultural Research institute (ARI), Quetta, to conduct lysimetric and other research studies. A set of six lysimeters with circular plant chambers of concrete has been constructed under the collaboration of National Drainage Programme (NDP), where studies on crop water requirements of the orchards are under progress.

Lysimeters constructed at Field Research Station, near Quetta A view of afFruit orchard grown on trickle irrigation system

LIST OF STAFF (Quetta) Sr.# Name & Designation Qualification Specialization 1 Engr. Abdul Jabbar Khan Director Incharge B.Sc. (Agri. Engg.) High Efficiency Irrigation System,  Groundwater Recharge Techniques 2 Mr. Muhamamd Arshad Assistant Director MBA (Economics) Financial & administrative matters 3 Ms. Ziviqar Assistant Director M.Sc. (Analytical Chemistry) MBA (General/ Project Management) LLB Chromatographic Techniques 4 Engr. Muhammad Kaleem Assistant Director B.E. (Agri. Engg.) Desertification control & rainwater harvesting 5 Engr. Farman Ali Chandio Assistant Director B.E. (Agri. Engg.) Groundwater recharge techniques 6 Mr. Zakir Hussain Jogi, Assistant Research Office B.E. (Agri. Engg.) Irrigation & Drainage 7  Mr. Imtiaz Ali Sub Engineer Diploma in Civil Engg. Civil Works, Monitoring & data collection

Services Available

Water quality testing (drinking, irrigation and waste water ) and advisory services

R&D Activities

Major Development Projects Completed

Up-Gradation of WRRC, Quetta to Undertake Rejuvenation of Depleting Aquifers and Propagation of High Efficiency Irrigation Systems in Balochistan National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWQL)

The briefs of the projects are given on pages

Major Research Studies Completed (Non-Development)

1. Survey of Trickle Irrigation Systems Installed in Balochistan

Irrigation systems installed during 1982 to 2002 in Balochistan was conducted through field surveys. Out of 106 sites 72% sites were non operational. 28% systems were found operational completely or partially, 11 % systems survived for a maximum period of 5 to 9 years out of which 06 systems were found working satisfactorily even after passing a period of 9 years. The success of 06 systems installed under the FAO/UNDP financed Deciduous Fruit Project has been reported mainly due to imported quality materials, possessing spare components and accessories for replacements, skilled manpower and installation at the government farms and fields of progressive farmers, mostly in Quetta, Kalat, Pshin and Mastung areas. The dominant fruit species like apple, grapes and mix orchards were found cultivated under the working trickle systems covering an area of 47, 65 and 64 ha respectively. The trickle systems on old grown up orchards showed poor performance, due to non-adaptation to limited irrigation supplies, as number of emitters were not increased with the age and canopy cover of trees, therefore system were unable to meet the water requirements of the plants, as a result the trees had stunted growth and in some cases dried up. The farmers were not trained to operate and maintain the systems in a proper way and were eventually compelled to switch over again to the flood irrigation systems.

Precipitation Data collected at different Meteorological Stations in Balochistan

2. Survey of Drought Hit Areas of Balochistan Province (2004-05)

The province faced severe drought in 1998-2004. The districts declared by the provincial government as severely drought affected areas were Awaran, Bolan, Chagai, Dera Bugti, Gwadar, Jhal Magsi, Kalat, Kharan, Khuzdar, Kila Saifullah, Kila Abdullah, Lasbela, Mastung, Panjgoor, Pishin, Quetta, Turbat and moderate drought effected districts were Barkhan, Kohlu, Loralai, Musa Khail, Sibi, Zhob, Ziarat. The precipitation data were collected from different meteorological stations of flood affected areas from 1993-2004 and were analysed as given below.

3. Low Cost Chlorination for Improving Quality of Drinking Water in Flood Affected Areas of Sindh & Balochistan (July 2004-June2005)

The main objective of the study was to assess the status of drinking water quality in the flood affected areas of Balochistan and Sind and provide low cost chlorination facilities for its improvement. Under this programme WRRC Quetta collected sapmples from 4 cities of Balochistan i.e. Sibi, Dera Murad Jamali, Dera Allah Yar and Usta Muhammad, for determining the microbiological quality of the drinking water. The anlysis results showed that 80-90% water samples were microbiologically unsafe for drinking. The PCRWR in collaboration with UNICEF installed 4 low cost chlorinators at main drinking water sources, in every city.

The Water Quality Laboratory Watershed management activities

On Going Development Projects

Enhancement and Management of Groundwater Resources in Balochistan Determination of Water Requirement of Orchards in Balochistan through Lysimetric and other techniques Participatory National Integrated Water Management Program (in Upland Mountainous Areas) Rainwater Harvesting and Desertification Control (RHDC) in Kharan-Chagai Desert of Balochistan’ Water Quality Monitoring in Rural Araes of Pakistan and Installation of Low Cost water conditioning and Filtration Units Provision of Safe Drinking Water- Khushal Pakistan Programme Mass Awareness for Water Conservation and Development

The briefs of these projects are given on pages

On-Going Research Studies/Activities (Non-development)

(i) Determination of Water Requirements of Orchards in Balochistan through Lysimetric and other Advanced Techniques

A set of 6 lysimeters has been constructed with the collaboration of National Drainage Programme (NDP) at the field research station. Plant chambers of concrete were constructed in circular shape with 2 cm wall thickness, 2.1 m internal diameter and 3.0 m depth. Each lysimeter has been provided with an outlet to collect the drainage surplus. Apple trees of an early variety are planted in these lysimeters and a measured quantity of water is applied to the plants. Tensiometers have been installed in each lysimeter, to measure changes in the moisture content. In the surrounding area of lysimeters, some fruit plants are planted to avoid the oasis effect.

The first leaky structure /dam constructed at Margat Area, near Quetta, A gabion structure constructed at Chashma Achozai, Balochistan for groundwater recharge

(ii) Monitoring Network of Groundwater Recharge at Margat Leaky Dam

The recharge of groundwater aquifer through 161 already constructed Delay Action Dams (DAD) in Balochistan is minimal because of reduced or totally stopped infiltration, owing to the siltation of storage reservoir bed. Therefore, most of the stored water continued to be lost through evaporation, without contributing any recharge to the aquifer. The PCRWR has constructed a series of leaky structures at Margat Area, about 50 km from Quetta. The water is released downstream, at the rate at which it could infiltrate in to the downstream nullah bed. Since most of the sediment has been trapped / settled upstream of this structure, therefore, water flowing downstream recharges the aquifer effectively.even piezeometers were installed at Margat Dam site, in the downstream of leaky dam, to find out the effect of the structure on the infiltration rate/groundwater recharge

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