Water Crisis Looms as Khanpur Dam Nears Dead Level

The water level at Khanpur Dam has dropped alarmingly close to its dead level due to a prolonged dry spell. Currently, the reservoir holds water just 11 feet above the dead level mark, sparking serious concerns over the future water supply to Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

As per official data released on Friday, the dam’s water level has fallen to 1,921 feet, only slightly above its dead storage level of 1,910 feet. The inflow of water into the dam is very low—just 16 cusecs—while the daily outflow is much higher at 127 cusecs. Out of this, around 96.18 cusecs are being provided to major users like the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB).

Officials warn that if this imbalance continues, the reservoir may only last another 25 days. Water levels are reportedly declining by approximately 0.10 feet each day due to ongoing supply to various civic institutions in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The situation has worsened because the dam’s catchment areas, including the Margalla Hills and Galiyat regions, have not received enough rainfall. As a result, parts of the reservoir are drying up, exposing rocks and dry land at the main storage and spillway zones. If there is no significant rainfall in the next 10 to 15 days, the water level could fall dangerously close to or reach the dead level.

An official further revealed that, due to the ongoing water shortage, supply for irrigation to both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was stopped about a month ago. The water table in nearby areas such as Taxila and Wah has also gone down sharply because of the continued dry weather.

The declining water levels have not only affected water supply but also tourism. Fewer visitors are coming to the dam now, and boatmen have left their boats on the exposed lakebed as the water recedes.

Khanpur Dam, located near the Potohar Plateau and Khanpur village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—about 40 kilometers from Islamabad and 15 kilometers from Haripur—plays a vital role in supplying water to households in the twin cities, as well as to surrounding agricultural and industrial zones.