Whenever I see a water bottle, I remember the wells, water carriers, leather bags, and overhead tanks of my childhood.
- The next time you see a mineral water bottle in front of you, do not feel proud. Instead, ask yourself: Are we living in an era where we have poisoned our share of fresh water and are now buying our basic right with money?
By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden
My childhood memories are deeply connected with the streets and parks of Moro, where life was not as fast-paced as it is today, but simple and enchanting. I remember we often visited Awami Park near Al Sadiq Soomra Colony. At that time, recreational facilities were limited, so the park was a great source of entertainment for us, nothing less than a paradise. Water fountains, slides, flowers, greenery, and a little open space for walking are still engraved in my mind. Life was simple, yet full of joy. I do not know during whose tenure the park was built, but whoever built it truly deserves appreciation.
During that period, or perhaps slightly later, the Chief Municipal Officer of the Moro Municipal Committee was Mr. Muhammad Murad Kehar from Larkana. His son, Aamir Kehar, was our dear friend and classmate. We often met in the evenings after school in the Municipal Committee garden or in the small garden outside their home, where we would play games or discuss school homework. Aamir’s grandfather would also sit with us and treat us with great affection.
Near that park stood a large overhead water tank where pumped water was stored and supplied to the town. That tank still exists today, though in a deteriorated condition. I remember water used to be supplied twice a day, morning and evening, but there was never any certainty that water come through the taps today or not? That uncertainty was always part of daily life.
Some Memories: Water Carriers and Wells
At that time, there were several wells, khuhi in Sindhi, in Moro. Some were functional, others dried up, but all were part of the town’s history. Occasionally, one or two water carriers (known as pakhali or beheshti) could be seen in the streets. They manually operated leather water bags, supplying water to a few houses or sprinkling water on the streets (called chhinkar) to settle dust.
I remember there was a well (Khuhi) near Mumtaz Cinema (which has now become a shopping center), close to the grain market and Khera Bazaar (now known as the mobile market). Perhaps it still exists. Out of curiosity, I would peer into those deep wells. It frightened me, yet fascinated me at the same time. There was also an old, dried well in Moro Main Primary School that became a center of childhood curiosity. We children, would look into it as if some hidden secret lay deep within. Perhaps those wells have now disappeared into the pages of history.
From Municipal Water to Private Pumps: When a Motor Pump Became a Luxury
When long gaps began appearing in the municipal water supply, my father and uncle decided to install our own electric motor pump. Before that, there was a hand pump in our neighborhood that helped in emergencies, although its handle was often stolen.
Once the electric pump was installed at home, water use became almost luxurious. Excessive use became the norm because there were no limits. Even though load shedding existed then, it was not as severe as it is today. Whenever electricity was available, we switched on the motor and water flowed freely. It felt like true comfort at that time.
Gradually, when every household installed its own pump, the municipal water supply completely collapsed.
At that time, it felt as if we had solved the water problem forever. We thought we were free.
But that freedom was temporary.
Wastewater Ponds: A Solution or the Beginning of Environmental Destruction?
In those days, Moro had several large wastewater ponds, locally called khadd. These were simply open areas where sewage water was collected. It was not a modern treatment system; it was merely a dumping and accumulation site for dirty water.
Sathal Khadd near Khalifo Sain’s graveyard was quite famous. It may now have been filled and turned into part of the graveyard or other construction. There was another khadd near Sakhi Ibrahim Shah’s shrine in the Surhiya and Nawal neighborhood. The largest khadd was located between the Main Road and Gachero Road, which may now have been converted into shops or a shopping center.
When the Taste of Water Changed
There came a time when the water from the surrounding motor pumps no longer tasted the same. Sometimes it felt bitter, sometimes metallic; in other words, it was no longer fit for drinking. Water samples from the area revealed the presence of arsenic.
What people once considered a luxury slowly turned into a danger.
Arsenic: A Hidden Poison
At that time, those wastewater ponds were considered solutions. But scientific research shows that disposing sewage in open ponds is an environmental time bomb. When dirty water seeps into the ground, it directly contaminates the drinking groundwater sources. Harmful chemicals, bacteria, nitrates, and heavy metals mix with groundwater.
When crops are irrigated with such water, or when it is used for drinking, these toxic substances become part of the human body and food chain. In many parts of Sindh, arsenic contamination in groundwater has been confirmed.
Long-term exposure to arsenic can cause severe health issues, including skin diseases, cancer, heart problems, and hepatitis.
RO Plants and Mineral Water: Progress or Shame?
Today, some RO plants have been installed at the municipal level. However, their quality and maintenance are uncertain. People stand in queues to fill water. Others, either by choice or necessity, buy mineral water bottles.
But the question arises: in the 21st century, is buying bottled water a sign of development, or a failure of the system? Or is it a collective embarrassment?
Clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right. It should come from household taps, not from plastic bottles sold in markets.
The mineral water bottle placed proudly on our tables is not a symbol of luxury or progress. It is evidence of social failure. Water should top the list of human necessities, not development statistics.
Modern Solutions Exist
In developed countries, advanced wastewater treatment systems exist. Before releasing wastewater into rivers, it is treated to the point where it can even be reused. Desalination plants can convert seawater into drinking water within a short time. With modern filtration and distribution systems, tap water in many developed nations is directly drinkable.
Unfortunately, we are still unable to supply clean water to our homes.
The problem is not technology. The problem is intent, planning, and transparency.
Study Visit to Hamburg, Germany
In September 2022, our company took us on a study tour to Hamburg, Germany. Our guide first took us by underground train and then by bus to the Energie Hill / Georgswerder site.
The management had arranged an English briefing for us. We were told that this site was originally a landfill hill where household, construction, and toxic waste had been dumped. The landfill was closed in 1979. In 1983, dangerous dioxins were detected in groundwater. At great expense, the site was sealed to protect groundwater.
Wind turbines were installed. Gas is produced from the landfill. Electricity is generated from wind. Toxic water is treated before being released, and even the treatment process generates gas. In other words, a chaotic waste dump was transformed into a renewable energy site through sincere intent and technology.
Today, it even serves as a picnic spot for the city. However, it will remain under observation for the next hundred years to ensure no further contamination occurs.
Whose Responsibility Is It?
In my view, this is beyond the capacity of a small municipal committee. Groundwater restoration requires provincial, national, and even international collaboration. Under a long-term mission and vision, perhaps over the next 15–20 years, damaged groundwater can be restored. Modern sewage systems must be built, and untreated wastewater should never be discharged anywhere.
Everything is possible if there is genuine intent.
A Memory and a Question
The next time you see a mineral water bottle in front of you, do not feel proud. Instead, ask yourself:
Are we living in an era where we have poisoned our share of fresh water and are now buying our basic right with money? Is this our definition of development?
Whenever I see a water bottle, I remember the wells, water carriers, leather bags, and overhead tanks of my childhood. Water was once a source of curiosity; today it is a source of anxiety.
We built shopping centers over wastewater ponds but failed to build modern treatment systems.
Is it a development to have plastic water bottles or clean water flowing from taps?
True development is not shopping malls. True development is clean groundwater. True development is proper wastewater treatment. True development is when safe water flows from every household tap.
Until that day comes, the mineral water bottles placed before us will continue to remind us that our journey is still incomplete.
Read: Tale of Camel Caravans and a Darwesh
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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.
