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The Dumlottee Wells, also known as Dumlottee Conduit, is a defunct water supply system in Karachi. It was the inaugural water supply system in Karachi, established in British India-era.

History

Dumlottee Wells were constructed by British Indian engineers in the 19th century. The system originally comprised 15 wells, excavated along the Malir River to provide a reliable water supply for the burgeoning city.

Throughout the British colonial period, the conduit underwent two significant development phases. The first, commenced in 1881, involved the construction of several wells near the Dumlottee section of the river. This phase enabled the delivery of five million gallons of water daily to Karachi Cantonment. Additionally, filtration galleries, engineered to facilitate efficient water transfer, were installed to ensure an uninterrupted supply to the city.

The second phase, initiated in 1923, included the establishment of additional wells, boosting the city's water supply by 15 million gallons. Historical records indicate the creation of 16 wells at Dumlottee, designed to provide 20 million gallons per day (MGD) of water to Karachi. A 32-kilometre conduit was also constructed in the same year.

The ancient conduit spans multiple areas, including Al-Hilal Society, Aziz Bhatti Park, Civil Lines, Dumlottee, Gulshan Block 6, Mashriq Centre, Karachi University, Malir Cantonment, NIPA Chowrangi, Old Sabzi Mandi, and Safoora Chowrangi.

While it was once a vital water source for various parts of Karachi, only one well currently operates, furnishing Gadap Town with 500,000 gallons of water daily. The Dumlottee Conduit draws its water supply from Keenjhar Lake.

References

1. Hasan, Shazia (August 4, 2013). "The 12 remaining Dumlottee wells". Dawn. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
2. "'ڈملوٹی اسکیم' برطانوی دور کا پہلا فراہمی آب کا نظام". Daily Jang. Archived from the original on 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
3. ^ "Dumlottee Conduit: A neglected historical asset". The Express Tribune. October 2, 2019. Archived from the original on August 28, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.

• Water supply and sanitation in Pakistan
• Tourist attractions in Karachi