LAPSE:2023.18640
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.18640
Assessment of Solar Photovoltaic Water Pumping of WASA Tube Wells for Irrigation in Quetta Valley Aquifer
March 8, 2023
Abstract
This paper investigates the impact of tube wells on the discharge and water table of the Quetta Valley aquifer and conducts a financial analysis of the solar photovoltaic water pumping system (SPVWP) in comparison with a typical pumping system for the Water and Sanitation Agency of Quetta’s (WASA) tube wells. Quetta Valley is dependent on groundwater as surface resources are on decline and unpredictable. The population of this city has exponentially increased from 0.26 million in 1975 to 2.2 million in 2017 which has put a lot of pressure on the groundwater aquifer by installing more than 500 large capacity tube wells by WASA and Public Health Engineering (PHE) departments in addition to thousands of low-capacity private tube wells. The unprecedented running of these wells has resulted in drying of the historical Karez system, agricultural activities, and the sharp increase in power tariffs. There are 423 tube wells in operation installed by WASA in addition to PHE, Irrigation and Military Engineering Services (MES), which covers 60% of the city’s water demand. The results will be beneficial for organizations and positively impact the operation of these wells to meet public water demand. For the two zones, i.e., Zarghoon and Chiltan in Quetta Valley, recommendations are given for improved water management.
This paper investigates the impact of tube wells on the discharge and water table of the Quetta Valley aquifer and conducts a financial analysis of the solar photovoltaic water pumping system (SPVWP) in comparison with a typical pumping system for the Water and Sanitation Agency of Quetta’s (WASA) tube wells. Quetta Valley is dependent on groundwater as surface resources are on decline and unpredictable. The population of this city has exponentially increased from 0.26 million in 1975 to 2.2 million in 2017 which has put a lot of pressure on the groundwater aquifer by installing more than 500 large capacity tube wells by WASA and Public Health Engineering (PHE) departments in addition to thousands of low-capacity private tube wells. The unprecedented running of these wells has resulted in drying of the historical Karez system, agricultural activities, and the sharp increase in power tariffs. There are 423 tube wells in operation installed by WASA in addition to PHE, Irrigation and Military Engineering Services (MES), which covers 60% of the city’s water demand. The results will be beneficial for organizations and positively impact the operation of these wells to meet public water demand. For the two zones, i.e., Zarghoon and Chiltan in Quetta Valley, recommendations are given for improved water management.
Record ID
Keywords
cost benefit ratio, equivalent annualized cost, Pakistan Meteorological Department, solar photovoltaic water pumping, Water and Sanitation Agency, water pumping system
Subject
Suggested Citation
Khan MS, Tahir A, Alam I, Razzaq S, Usman M, Tareen WUK, Baig NA, Atif S, Riaz M. Assessment of Solar Photovoltaic Water Pumping of WASA Tube Wells for Irrigation in Quetta Valley Aquifer. (2023). LAPSE:2023.18640
Author Affiliations
Khan MS: Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (IESE), School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Tahir A: IGIS, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan [ORCID]
Alam I: Department of Electrical Engineering, Bahria University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan [ORCID]
Razzaq S: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Abbottabad Campus, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan [ORCID]
Usman M: Department of Electrical Engineering, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Allama Iqbal Road, Mirpur 10250, Pakistan [ORCID]
Tareen WUK: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia [ORCID]
Baig NA: Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Atif S: IGIS, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan [ORCID]
Riaz M: Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Tahir A: IGIS, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan [ORCID]
Alam I: Department of Electrical Engineering, Bahria University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan [ORCID]
Razzaq S: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Abbottabad Campus, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad 45550, Pakistan [ORCID]
Usman M: Department of Electrical Engineering, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Allama Iqbal Road, Mirpur 10250, Pakistan [ORCID]
Tareen WUK: Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia [ORCID]
Baig NA: Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Atif S: IGIS, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan [ORCID]
Riaz M: Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
14
Issue
20
First Page
6676
Year
2021
Publication Date
2021-10-14
ISSN
1996-1073
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Original Submission
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PII: en14206676, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.18640
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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14206676
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