The World Water Organization

Ten most salient points water in nepal

1.Nepal has been identified as the 14th poorest country in the world. 2. It is estimated that 15,000 children die each year due to diarrheal diseases caused by poor environmental sanitation and lack of access to quality water supply (Nepals Department of Water Supply and Sewerage). 3. Although much of the urban population has access to a water source, there is still a huge shortage. Kathmandu has a demand for 200 million liters daily, but the government reports only being able to supply 160 million liters. 4. There is no national standard for water quality. Water supplied in Kathmandu is tainted with dangerous levels of chemicals, viruses and bacteria, and some estimate that only 27% of residents in the capital have access to clean, safe water. 5. Toxic levels of arsenic have been detected in the water in the Terai region, which can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, partial paralysis and blindness. 6. The National Water Plan for Nepal reports that the number of absolute poor has almost doubled in the last 20 years. 7. 6025 people died between 1983 and 2001 due to floods and landslides in Nepal. 8. Groundwater is being rapidly depleted. According to the Nepalese government, the water level is falling by 2.5 meters annually. 9. Climate change is reducing water availability within Nepal. Erratic rainfall, less rain during monsoon season and drought result in less water being stored. 10. It is reported that three quarters of Himalayan glaciers could disappear by 2030, leading to more floods and drought for the 500 million people who rely on Nepals rivers in India and Bangladesh (Department for International Development). Population: 28,563,377 (July 2009 est.)
%W/O access to water: Urban: 17% Rural: 29% Per Capita: 375 cubic meters per year

Existing water collection/extraction infracture :

Piped water is considered a safe water source but only 14% have access in their homes, 30% outside their homes. 37% rely on a covered well, 5% on an open well, and 14% on rivers, streams and ponds. (WHO Nepal Health Profile). Kathmandus pipeline system is 100 years old. 38% are reported to be leaking, and repair is difficult due

to limited funds. Water is piped to tap stands in many locations, thereby reducing the need to carry and transport large quantities of water. Some projects include the education of local people on the maintenance of these public taps. Many tube wells exist though arsenic has been found in many, particularly in the Terai region. Collection/carrying hours There is no clear statistic on this, though sporadic commentaries report lines at tap stands etc. In the Amargadi Municipality 200 families share 1 tap, requiring people to queue from 4am to get a jar of drinking water. (The Himalayan) Within Kathmandu, children stand in queues for hours to collect water from a public tap, and a large number of residents in the capital have reported that their taps have been dry for months.

Local government activities addressing water issued

The Government of Nepal began formulating the Water Resources Strategy in 1996 which was approved in 2002. The main goal identified was to improve the living standards of Nepalese people in a sustainable manner. In order to implement the goals identified in the Water Resources Strategy, the government formed the National Water Plan, which was approved in 2005. The National Water Plan established short- (5 year), medium- (15 year) and long-term (25 year) plans for various aspects of the water sector, including agriculture, sanitation, environmental sustainability, and drinking water issues. The short-term goal for drinking water was to ensure 85% of the total population has access to water supply by 2007. It appears that this goal has almost been met although there is no systemic water quality monitoring nationwide. The short-term goal for sanitation was to ensure 50% of the population has basic sanitation facilities by 2007, which has not been met. Government Water Ministry The Ministry of Water Resources http://www.mowr.gov.np/ The Ministry is divided into two departments, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Irrigation. Ministry of Irrigation Singh Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 977-1-4211426 Fax: 977-1-4200026 Email: info@moir.gov.np Web: http://www.moir.gov.np

international activities addressing water issued

There are numerous international organizations involved in Nepals many water and sanitation issues. Some projects include: The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) exists under a mandate from the UN. They developed the Water and Sanitation for All (WASH) campaign, which is run by Nepals WASH coalition. The coalition includes Nepals government, NGOs and other agencies, and has the main aim of improving sanitation conditions. The international NGO WaterAid began working in Nepal in 1986, and has provided freshwater and

sanitation to an additional 3% of the total rural population. WaterAid has also installed arsenic detection and mitigation methods in the Terai region, where arsenic was found in 17% of wells. The U.K.s Department for International Development (DFID) has invested 14 million pounds, building over 800 rural water and sanitation schemes, estimated to benefit 160,000 people. DFID are working on approximately 160 new schemes, which will reach an additional 33,000 people in rural areas. Water disputes All the rivers of Nepal drain into the Ganges system. The waters of the Ganges Basin are shared by Nepal, Bangladesh, China and India. This river basin is home to 500 million people in one of the poorest regions in the world. Although there are currently no water disputes with Nepal, pollution, flooding and river channel changes can affect this region dramatically, increasing potential for disputes.

Existing treaties/ agreements

There are at least three bilateral treaties with India that involve three major rivers. 1. The Kosi Treaty (1954) - http://www.moir.gov.np/pdf_files/koshi_treaty.pdf This specifies that no construction shall be undertaken along this river by India without consultation with Nepal. 2. The Gandak Treaty (1959) - http://www.moir.gov.np/pdf_files/gandak_treaty.pdf This details various projects along the Gandak river which flows into India, paid for by the Government of India. 3. The Mahakali Treaty (1996) - http://www.moir.gov.np/pdf_files/mahakali_treaty.pdf This details the rights that Nepal and India have to the shared Mahakali River. However, implementation of the Mahakali Treaty has proven problematic and talks continue 14 years after the treaty was formed.

Specific water needs

Drinking Water WaterAid Nepal (2004) estimated an additional 11,300 households still need clean water service and proper sanitation between 2000 and 2015 to achieve the drinking water target. To achieve this would cost an additional USD $23 million on top of the USD$755 million allocated in the available resources budget for 2000-2015 (bringing the estimated cost to USD $1,087 million). Although WaterAid has improved conditions in Terai, there remains a water quality problem due to poor design of underground tubes in wells. Improved water treatment is unaffordable as pipelines are scattered throughout the country, and landslides and extensive erosion within the hills have damaged transmission and distribution systems. Water supply and sanitation levels in districts such as Rukum and Jajarkot fall well below the national average. Only 46% have a supply of drinking water while only 23% have toilets. It has been reported that a large percentage of Nepals drinking water contains fecal coliforms, demonstrating the urgent need for dramatic improvement in the water quality and for the establishment of national standards for safe potable water (International Water and Sanitation Centre). Funding is required for basic maintenance of pipes and tap stands. This will help reduce the major shortages seen even within Kathmandu.

Agriculture The National Water Plan recognizes the need for the expansion of irrigated agriculture in order to meet the food security requirements of the country. Only approximately one-third of irrigable land has year round irrigation, limiting production significantly. Agriculture production in 2003 was 7.2 million tons which only just met the minimum requirement for Nepals edible grains. Sanitation Sanitation facilities increased by 17% between 1996 and 2004, but there is still a major need for improved sanitation facilities, particularly in rural regions. Human waste continues to contaminate water sources in dense areas of rapid population growth. Inadequate education of the environmental hazard of this activity remains a significant problem. A 1996 study by UNICEF and the National Planning Commission found that a major reason for not having a latrine included 66% having no perceived need. It has been estimated that 14 million people (approx 50%) practice open defecation in Nepal.

Challenges
Economic Nepals annual GDP is USD $31.39 billion. The National Water Plan estimates that the total cost of water supply and sanitation programs will be 231,358 million Nepal Rupees approximately USD$3,161 million. Political The government of Nepal had been unstable for many years due to a coup, civil war, and the recent abolition of the monarchy. Nepal was declared a Federal Democratic Republic in 2008.