Millions of Gallons of Rainwater Go to Waste – A Costly Threat to Lahore’s Future

Millions of gallons of rainwater go to waste every year in Lahore, a city struggling with groundwater depletion and seasonal urban flooding.
Rainfall should be nature’s way of recharging underground reserves, yet in Pakistan’s second-largest city, most of this precious resource ends up flooding streets, clogging drains, and eventually flowing into the sewer system.

Every day, Lahore extracts between 70 and 80 million gallons of groundwater to meet domestic, industrial, and commercial needs. The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) operates over 600 tubewells, while private and commercial entities run thousands more. Without proper storage and recharge systems, this extraction is unsustainable.

Learn more about Pakistan’s water scarcity crisis here.

Groundwater Depletion – A Growing Crisis

According to Dr. Muhammad Yasin, a water resources expert at the Centre for Integrated Mountain Research, University of Punjab, Lahore’s underground water level is falling by 1 to 1.5 meters each year.
He warns:

“If we extract a bucket of water from the ground, we should also return a bucket. Our university has constructed recharge wells at various locations. Previously, rainwater would accumulate for hours in fields, but now it percolates into the ground quickly.”

This decline is alarming because a falling water table increases pumping costs, reduces access for poorer households, and risks the permanent loss of aquifer capacity.

Recharge Wells – A Simple Solution with Big Impact

Recharge wells offer a low-cost, high-impact solution.
Sohail Ali Naqvi, Director of Freshwater at WWF-Pakistan, explains that these wells filter rainwater through layers of stone, charcoal, and sand before it enters the ground.

“Rain harvesting is not just a technique—it’s a way to revive the earth’s breathing and save every drop for tomorrow’s water crisis.”

WWF-Pakistan has already built 35 recharge wells across Lahore, including at the University of Punjab and other institutions.

A properly managed rainwater harvesting system can reduce urban flooding, replenish groundwater, and create a sustainable water cycle for the city.

WASA’s Underground Storage Tanks Project

Ghufran Ahmed, Managing Director of WASA, says the agency is building large-scale underground water storage tanks across Lahore to capture rainwater.

Completed tanks:

• Lawrence Road – 1.4 million gallons

• Kashmir Road – 1.5 million gallons

• Sheranwala Gate – 1.5 million gallons

Under construction:

• Gaddafi Stadium – 4 million gallons

• Kareem Park – 1.8 million gallons

• Tajpura B Block – 3.2 million gallons

• Garden Town, Cooper Road, Rasool Park, Tikka Chowk, Railway Station, Waris Road, Fruit Mandi – 1.5–1.8 million gallons each

When complete, 13 tanks will store a total of 24.2 million gallons—still far below the city’s daily groundwater consumption, but a step in the right direction.

See how rain harvesting works here.

The Environmental and Economic Stakes

If millions of gallons of rainwater go to waste every year, the consequences are severe:

• Groundwater depletion accelerates, increasing pumping costs.

• Urban flooding causes property damage and traffic disruption.

• Public health risks rise due to stagnant floodwaters.

• Climate change vulnerability worsens, as erratic rainfall patterns increase dependence on underground water.

Economically, every wasted gallon represents lost opportunities for agriculture, industry, and household use—all of which are vital to Lahore’s economy.

A Call to Action for Rain Harvesting

To tackle this crisis, experts suggest:

• Installing recharge wells in public parks, schools, and large buildings.

• Expanding WASA’s underground tank network.

• Introducing legislation that requires rainwater harvesting in new construction projects.

• Launching public awareness campaigns about the benefits of conserving rainwater.

The focus must shift from crisis response to preventive water management. Lahore has the infrastructure potential, technical know-how, and civic institutions to lead Pakistan in sustainable rainwater use.

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Read our coverage on Karachi’s water crisis and storage challenges.

Conclusion:
The fact that millions of gallons of rainwater go to waste every year in Lahore should be a wake-up call. The city can no longer afford to let this resource drain away. With the right combination of rain harvesting systems, underground tanks, and public engagement, Lahore can secure its water future and turn every drop of rain into a lifeline for generations to come.