On 15 January 2026 a Pak-EPA inspection team visited the Sewage Treatment Plant in Sector I-9/1, Islamabad to review the operational status of unit processes at the I-9 STP. The assessment aimed to identify constraints limiting treatment capacity and to collect environmental samples for laboratory analysis.
The team observed that three phases of the plant were non-functional while Phase IV remained operational, treating roughly 1.5 MGD of wastewater. This output is well below the plant’s designed capacity of 10 MGD, a shortfall attributed primarily to leakages and clogging within the sewerage network feeding the facility.
Inspectors noted that treated effluent from the I-9 STP was being discharged into Nullah Lai rather than being redirected for landscaping or horticultural use, which reduces beneficial reuse opportunities and raises local water management concerns. The condition of sewers and inlets was identified as a key factor constraining full plant performance.
Environmental samples were collected at multiple points across the facility and forwarded to the CLEAN lab operated by Pak-EPA for analysis. Results will be measured against the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) for municipal effluent to determine compliance and to inform any follow-up actions needed to restore full operational capacity at the I-9 STP.
The inspection underscores the need for targeted repairs of sewer infrastructure and improved maintenance to ensure the I-9 STP can meet designed treatment levels and support safe effluent reuse within Islamabad.
