Factors Affecting the Performance of Water Treatment Plants in Pakistan

Increased rate of population growth, high demand for industrial and agricultural production, and release of waste in water resources causes water contamination in Pakistan. Moreover, the lack of water sanitation facilities also accounts for decreased quality of water available in Pakistan. The issue of water contamination forces people to use water polluted with pesticides, toxic metals, human feces, and industrial effluents. Use of polluted water causes diseases, such as polio, diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid, accounting for numerous deaths per year. In order to prevent the transmission of diseases and assure high quality water, the use and maintenance of water treatment plants has become vital. The water treatment plants aim to remove harmful pollutants, contaminants, and disease-carrying pathogens from water, making it safe for use. In this regard, the operational efficiency and performance of water treatment plants need to be evaluated and monitored continuously. The past approaches for evaluating the performance of water treatment plants do not take into consideration the interrelation between different parameters. To overcome the limitations of conventional methods, this research employs multi-criteria decision analysis to study different parameters affecting the performance of water treatment plants. Through the use of multi-criteria decision analysis, the interrelations are considered and a more rational decision is taken. Moreover, the results of this research also help in formulating a policy for water sanitation. This policy helps in elimination of harmful pollutants from water, allowing us to achieve UN’S SDG 6, i.e., assuring the availability of clean water to everyone.