Solar-powered tube wells, service stations and Pakistan’s growing water crisis

By Muhammad Haris

The rapid expansion of solar energy in Pakistan is undoubtedly a positive development. In areas where electricity is expensive or unavailable, solar-powered tube wells have made water more accessible to farmers and communities.

But an important question needs to be asked: when electricity becomes cheaper, are we beginning to treat water as unlimited?

Untreated water from service stations is a major source of water contamination in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. – Photo by the author

In agricultural areas, large pumps powered by solar energy can operate for several hours without the burden of electricity bills. This may encourage excessive groundwater extraction where proper monitoring is absent. The problem is not solar energy itself, but the uncontrolled use of the water it helps pump.

Solar-powered agricultural tube wells should therefore have water or flow meters to measure groundwater extraction. Farmers should also be encouraged to use drip and sprinkler irrigation and avoid pumping more water than necessary.

Cars are being washed at a solar-powered service station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. – Photo by the author

The issue is also visible at service stations. At a service station along Ring Road, large quantities of water are used for vehicle washing. Depending on the washing method, one vehicle may use around 100–150 litres of water.

If 20–25 vehicles are washed daily, one service station could use approximately 2,000–3,750 litres of water per day. Ten similar service stations could consume around 20,000–37,500 litres, while 15 could reach 30,000–56,250 litres per day.

These are estimated figures and actual consumption can vary, but they highlight the scale of the issue.

Water meters should be made mandatory at service stations so consumption can be monitored. Service stations should also be encouraged or required to install water-recycling systems and adopt washing methods that use less water.

Pakistan is already facing increasing pressure on its water resources due to climate change, population growth, changing rainfall patterns and groundwater depletion. If this continues, water scarcity could affect not only drinking water but also agriculture, food security, livestock and livelihoods.

Solar energy can save our electricity, but it must not lead us to waste our water.