Rainwater Harvesting Project in Islamabad Showcases Nature-Based Solution to Flooding and Groundwater Recharge
Islamabad: The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) has showcased its groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting project at Kachnar Park, Sector I-8, highlighting its potential to reduce urban flooding while restoring declining groundwater levels in the federal capital.
The project, developed in collaboration with WaterAid and the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), was presented during a media exposure visit attended by journalists from print, electronic, and digital media.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mohsin Hafeez, Strategic Programme Director for Water, Food and Ecosystems at IWMI, explained that the system captures rainwater runoff and directs it into underground aquifers through a specially designed recharge well. The approach helps reduce surface flooding while replenishing groundwater reserves.
According to IWMI, the recharge well returned approximately 1.9 million gallons of rainwater to the aquifer during the 2022 monsoon season, raising the local groundwater table by nearly four metres and helping reduce flood peaks in Nala Leh.
Building on the project’s success, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) installed 50 additional recharge wellsacross Islamabad, which collectively recharged nearly 10 million gallons of water during the same monsoon season.
The project’s effectiveness became even more evident during the 2025 monsoon, when Islamabad experienced exceptionally heavy rainfall. IWMI reported that the Kachnar Park recharge well alone diverted around 19 million gallons of stormwater underground, easing pressure on the city’s drainage network and helping restore groundwater levels in nearby areas.
The facility is equipped with modern monitoring instruments, including a piezometer, weather station, and rain gauge, enabling experts to monitor groundwater levels, rainfall, and the overall performance of the recharge system.
Dr. Hafeez also highlighted recent policy developments, noting that rainwater harvesting has been made mandatory for new buildings in Islamabad under CDA building by-laws introduced in 2023. He added that the Federal Cabinet has approved Green Building Codes incorporating rainwater harvesting provisions for wider implementation across Pakistan.
He urged federal and provincial governments to promote similar nature-based water management solutions, emphasizing that effective urban planning, supportive regulations, and community participation are essential to addressing water scarcity and strengthening long-term water security.
