PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY IN KATHMANDU VALLEY

Abstract

Despite being a rich country in water resources, Nepal is not fully utilizing the huge water resources due to various factors. Water is important for all kind activities in the present condition especially agriculture, human consumption, hydropower etc. Water resource has strong relation with urban development, domestic development, commercial, industrial sector growth and agricultural development. And a secure water supply is essential for public health, society and economy, therefore it is critically important to manage water resources effectively. Across the globe, increased demand and water mismanagement have put stress on water services. Thus, there has been a growing societal recognition of the need to look at sustainable solutions that allow for everyone to have access to clean water. Kathmandu Valley, the largest urban agglomeration of the Nepal with the highest density is the capital city of the country. Due to uncontrolled urbanization in the region, overall demand for water has increased and its impact on water resources like over extraction of surface and ground water can be seen nowadays. Simultaneously, both deficiency of water and deteriorating quality is being a major issue for the denizens of the Valley. Limited surface source and depletion trend of groundwater with waste disposal on the surface sources (rivers) are contributing the unsustainable water supply. The old water supply distribution system is not capable of supplying water efficiently and the losses is about 35-40%. Water shortage has been extremely worsened by the rapid surge in population and degradation of existing water infrastructures. The stress of increasing population and the economic development has put the future water security in serious condition. The government has tremendous pressure to provide potable water supply now and in future at minimum tariff for the denizens of the Valley. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 targets access to water and sanitation for all people by 2030. But, Nepal which is one of the least developed country has more challenge to attain this goal due to its poor infrastructure and high population growth. To examine the water crisis in the Kathmandu Valley, estimation of available water resources and domestic demand in the valley is necessary. The deficit in 2017 is 448 MLD taking demand as 135 lpcd for 3.88 million population and if the completion of the first Phase of Inter-basin transfer project called Melamchi (MWSP) finished by the end of 2017 which will deliver 170 MLD, the deficit will be 307 MLD. If the whole MWSP is completed within the specified timeframe (510 MLD of water), and sufficient treatment and distribution infrastructure is developed by the end of 2027, then there would be only 131 MLD water deficit. This indicate that the MWSP will make a substantial contribution to the valley’s water security. However, there will be still shortfall due to growing population and thus importance must be given to utilizing all the water available from the MWSP by developing adequate water treatment and distribution infrastructure along with behavioural change and reducing per capita to 100 lpcd. Then, there will be no deficit from 2028-2038. However, Melamchi has already passed the several deadlines and plagued by chronic delays due to political meddling, tunnelling issues and delay on laying of pipe distribution system and is still a mirage for the Kathmanduities. Even if, MWSP is completed, the existing distribution III | P a g e system will also be a problem due to high leakage rate (35-40%). All the stakeholders are waiting for MWSP thinking that it will quench the valley’s demand but the truth is otherwise. Thus, the different management options must be adopted by the households for water security. The present water resources management is only focused on supply side management which is not economically and environmentally sustainable. Though the consumption trend of the Kathmanduities is changing but the government and line agencies are not taking any steps for water conservation and other alternate options. In this context, this dissertation anticipates discovering the major problems and the obstacles in the supply of safe and sufficient drinking water, to study and analyse the continuing efforts to resolve the problems and recommend the suitable strategies and approach for sustainable water supply management in the Kathmandu valley. The purpose of water resource management is to ensure the security of water supply now and in the long term, taking account of increasing pressures on water supply from factors like increasing population and environmental requirements. I hope this study will illuminate and clarify the issues surrounding water crisis in the Valley and can be helpful for stakeholders necessary planning and strategies to achieve sustainable supply of potable water.