Map 3.1 Shigar Oasis - Freie Universität Berlin

6.7 Water quality
6.7.1 Bacteriological contamination
The most important factor that leads to a high frequency of diarrhoea diseases is the bacteriological
contamination of water, more precisely the occurrence and concentration of general
coliform bacteria and Escheria coli (E.coli). According to the standards for drinking water –
developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and also by the Value Standards for
Drinking Water in Pakistan that were established in 2006 - coliform bacteria and E.coli must
not be detectable in a 100 ml sample (WHO 2006; WHO & GoP 2006).
Water has been tested on coliform bacteria at public water taps in the following hamlets: Phiaspa,
Senkhor, Bunpa, Daskor, Bloqkhor, Halpapa (2x) 20 , Chhinpa, Kyahong, Kinapa, Bangra,
Manthunpa, Blaqchan, Gyanpa Rupa, Ghzoapa. Additionaly, water from one chudong in
Phiaspa has been tested as it is the only source of drinking water, as well as the nālā-water
at the eastern part before entering the inhabited areas of Shigar Proper. Moreover, one sample
from the bottled water has been taken for verification.
Except for the bottled water, all tested water samples did not meet the WHO standards, since
in every 100 ml-sample coliform bacteria have been detected. One example is shown in Figure
6.15. The yellow or orange colour indicates that coliform bacteria are present, while the
purple colour (Figure 6.16) shows the absence of coliform bacteria.
The bacteriological contamination of the water from the irrigation canals is much higher than
from the taps, as shown by
measurement results from autumn
2007, carried out on water
taps and canals. The results also
point out that the pollution increases
with the distance to its
intake point. To give an example,
at the intake point of Kyahong-
Hrkong, which is near to Agepa, Figure 6.15 Water sample from Figure 6.16 Water sam-
the contamination with coliform public tap in Kyahong
ple of bottled water
Photo: Voss, April 2008
Photo: Voss, April 2008
bacteria amounts 56/100ml, at the
mid point of the canal at Bishopa it accounts for 1,600/100ml and at its end point
10,800/100ml. The results also show differences in the contaminations at the intake points of
different canals according to their specific location. The contamination at the intake point of
the Gongyur-Hrkong, which is situated above the inhabited area amounts 28/100ml.
Whereas at the intake point of the Bunpi-Hrkong, it amounts 64/100ml, which is indicative of
an increasing pollution within the course of the nālā. Sub-canals show a higher contamination:
E.g. the water at the intake point of the Byasing-Hrkong, which is a sub-canal of the
Marapi-Hrkong, is contaminated with 8,200/100ml (unpublished data by MUNAWER, SKARDU
2007). The contamination levels vary seasonally. The peak of contamination is reached during
the summer months in both canals and pipelines. In the chudongs, the water quality is
20
In Halpapa the water was tested at two taps, one installed from AKCSP and one, which is situated
at the main bazaar. Both taps are connected to the general WSS.
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