Peshawar city may be facing water crisis as the tube-wells in the city are drying up due to lowering of the water table in the area. According to a survey, conducted by the Daily Times, out of the 150 tube-wells in Peshawar city, 30 have dried up and more tube-wells may stop functioning in the near future due to the lower water table.

The areas where the water table is falling alarmingly lower include Hayatabad and Warsak Road where, according to Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the water level has dropped down to a depth of more than 700 feet. One of the main reasons responsible for this decrease in water is the increasing number of service stations in the city that consume a lot of water.

In Hayatabad, a serious water crisis was experienced some 4 years ago and experts on the subject attributed it to the abundant plantation of Eucalyptus trees in the area. These trees have a high rate of transpiration and draw a lot of water from the soil, releasing it as vapors in the air. Increasing population and their reckless use of water is also a major factor responsible for the lowering water table in Peshawar.

The local administration of Peshawar has requested the provincial and federal governments to take urgent notice of the water situation in Peshawar city and release the approved funds for water supply schemes in the area. On the whole, Peshawar remains a dry city with only brief and rare rainfalls in summer. The only natural source of water infiltration in the city and suburban areas is the rainy season in late winter.