LAHORE: In a historical collaboration between the Information Technology University (ITU), Lahore and University of Colorado, United States, water ATM machines will be set up all across Punjab in order to provide clean drinking water to the people. According to reports, the whole project will cost around $374,599. The project will be undertaken under the Pakistan – United States Science and Technology Cooperation programme. ITU’s Dr Tauqeer Tauseef and Dr Mustafa Naseem will be working together on this project and it will be completed under the supervision of America’s National Academy of Science and Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan. According to the details released by the ITU, research has shown that due to ineffective monitoring of the water filtration plants, locals are being deprived of clean water facilities. It also says that Pakistan is on the brink a severe water crisis as the underground water level has now gone down to a 1000 cubic metre, which is alarming. Water ATM machines will be controlled electronically and it will be possible to measure the quality of the water as well. According to the details the project will begin soon. A water ATM is an automated water vending machine that dispenses pure drinking water. It can be installed in urban and rural localities which do not have access to clean and pure drinking water. A water vending machine works like any regular bank ATM, the only difference being that it provides water instead of money. A water ATM machine brings several advantages for the citizens: It dispenses safe and pure water 24/7 round the year. It can be installed in – schools, hospitals, bus/railway stations or community meeting places. It saves time and efforts that people spend on travelling or standing in queues to fetch safe and pure drinking water. It reduces the dependence of citizens on packaged drinking water, which otherwise is an expensive option, especially for those living in rural areas.