Residents of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) areas are grappling with a worsening water crisis as shrinking supplies from Khanpur Dam and declining groundwater levels have left thousands of households struggling to meet their daily needs.

According to officials, water inflows from Khanpur Dam have dropped from the allocated 19 million gallons per day (MGD) to just 11 MGD, while the output from tube wells has also declined due to falling groundwater levels. The combined shortfall in the two cantonment jurisdictions has reached 41.64 MGD, significantly reducing water availability for residents.

The shortage has forced authorities to introduce an alternate-day water supply schedule, with many households receiving water for only 25 to 30 minutes every other day. Residents say the limited supply is insufficient for daily use, leaving them with no option but to purchase expensive private water tankers despite a recent increase in annual water charges.

In Rawalpindi Cantonment alone, daily water demand stands at 50 MGD, while only 12.78 MGD is currently available. Meanwhile, Chaklala Cantonment faces a daily shortfall of 4.2 MGD, affecting several neighbourhoods, including Kamalabad, Jhawara, and Tahli Mohri, where residents report prolonged disruptions.

RCB officials say efforts are underway to improve water distribution, explaining that the alternate-day supply schedule is intended to ensure a more equitable distribution of available water until supplies improve. However, residents continue to demand a long-term solution to the recurring crisis.