Galiyat to Treat 95% of Hotel Wastewater
Galiyat wastewater treatment is set for a major upgrade. Six underground plants costing Rs450 million are being built in Galiyat to treat up to 95 per cent of the wastewater discharged by hotels. The Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) says the plants will protect the hill region’s forests, natural springs and water sources from pollution. The work covers six major towns across the Galiyat tract in Abbottabad district. The Express Tribune reported the GDA statement from Abbottabad.
The authority announced the project in a statement on Tuesday. It said hotel wastewater had previously flowed untreated into open areas and forests, putting springs and the local ecosystem at serious risk. The new plants will treat the water in several stages before it is discharged safely.
Galiyat is one of Pakistan’s busiest hill destinations, and its hotels have grown fast in recent years. The treatment plants are the first large effort to deal with the waste that growth has produced.
Galiyat wastewater treatment: how the plants will work
The GDA said the facilities will treat hotel wastewater through multiple stages, including ABR septic tanks and disinfection tanks. The treated water will then be discharged safely. The authority says the system can treat up to 95 per cent of the wastewater that hotels produce.
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Treatment plants | Six underground plants |
| Total cost | Rs450 million |
| Towns covered | Six major towns of Galiyat |
| Treatment level | Up to 95 per cent of hotel wastewater |
| Treatment method | ABR septic tanks and disinfection tanks |
The plants are being built in six major towns of Galiyat. The authority has not named all six towns in its statement, and it has not given a completion date for the work.
Ayubia plant location clarified
The authority also addressed concerns about the plant under construction in Ayubia. It said the plant poses no threat to the Ayubia parking area and is not being built near the mosque. The clarification follows local concerns about the project’s location in the busy tourist town.
Ayubia sits inside Ayubia National Park, a protected area of pine forest that draws walkers and tourists through the year. Our guide to Ayubia National Park sets out the park’s trails and its place in the Galiyat hills. Protecting its springs matters because the park’s streams feed the wider area.
Why the project matters for Galiyat
Untreated hotel wastewater has been a quiet problem in the hills for years. Hotels discharge water into open ground and forest, and that water can reach the springs that villages and wildlife depend on. The GDA spokesperson said the new facilities would stop that pollution and safeguard the region’s natural resources.
The project also fits the pressure Galiyat faces as a tourist destination. Snowfall in Galiyat draws large crowds of tourists, and Murree has already set out a winter safety plan for the season ahead. More visitors mean more wastewater, and the hills have limited room to absorb it.
The authority says the plants will promote sustainable tourism and give visitors a cleaner and healthier atmosphere. It reaffirmed its commitment to preserving Galiyat’s natural beauty, forests and water resources through environmentally sustainable projects.
Water protection beyond the hills
The Galiyat project is part of a wider push to protect Pakistan’s water. Pakistan is seeking $18 billion in investment for water security, and clean springs in the hills feed rivers and groundwater far downstream. Treating wastewater at its source is cheaper than cleaning polluted water later.
For visitors, the change will be invisible but real. The plants sit underground, and the treated water will flow out clean. The test for the project will be whether all six plants are finished and kept running, and whether hotels connect to them instead of discharging waste into the open as before.
Frequently asked questions
How many wastewater treatment plants are being built in Galiyat?
Six underground wastewater treatment plants are being built across six major towns of Galiyat, at a total cost of Rs450 million.
How much hotel wastewater will the plants treat?
The plants will treat up to 95 per cent of the wastewater discharged by hotels, using ABR septic tanks and disinfection tanks in several stages.
Is the Ayubia treatment plant near the mosque?
No. The Galiyat Development Authority has clarified that the under-construction plant in Ayubia is not being built near the mosque and poses no threat to the Ayubia parking area.
Why does Galiyat need wastewater treatment?
Untreated wastewater from hotels had been released into open areas and forests, posing a serious threat to natural springs, the environment and the local ecosystem.
When will the treatment plants be completed?
The authority has not given a completion date in its statement. The project covers six towns, and the plants are being built underground in stages.
