QUETTA: Rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge systems installed at two major educational institutions in Quetta have delivered promising results amid one of Balochistan’s worst droughts in recent years. The province received nearly 52 percent less rainfall than average in 2025, intensifying pressure on groundwater, which meets most of the capital’s water needs.
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The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), under the European Union-funded Revival of Balochistan Water Resources Programme (RBWRP), set up the systems at Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) and the Balochistan Agriculture College (BAC). The installations were tested during December 2025 rains, with storage tanks at BUITEMS filling close to capacity during 5 millimetres of rainfall on December 20 without triggering groundwater recharge.
A heavier rainfall of 13 millimetres on December 30-31 fully filled the tanks and initiated recharge, contributing four cubic metres to the groundwater aquifer. Water quality tests showed Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) at 155 parts per million, meeting standards for safe recharge.
At BAC, a 286,500-litre storage pond was filled, and overflow added 1.5 cubic metres to the groundwater, demonstrating the benefits of larger storage systems. At BUITEMS, overhead tank overflow is also captured and used for horticultural purposes, highlighting multi-purpose use of harvested water.
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IWMI officials said the initiatives aim to capture rainwater for institutional and horticultural use while replenishing depleted aquifers. Dr Muhammad Arshad and project officials Shamsher Shah and Mueez Shehzad noted that the December rains confirmed the operational effectiveness of the systems, which could be replicated in other drought-prone areas of Balochistan, offering a sustainable approach to water management.