Water Resources of Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu Valley is home to about 1.3 million people mostly living in urban environments, of which Kathmandu
(population 800,000) is the largest. The water supply situation in Kathmandu Valley is critical, especially during the dry season,
when most households receive water for only 1-2 hours per day, and many people have to rely on small quantities of water
brought by tankers. The National Water Supply Policy recently developed for Nepal spelled out urban and rural water supply
policy in general terms. This TA was built on that policy and prepared a specific urban water supply policy document with
particular relevance to Kathmandu Valley and its exceptional situation vis-à-vis private sector management.
TA OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE
2. The objectives of the TA were to prepare for and support the private sector management of piped water supplies in
Kathmandu Valley, and to enhance the sustainable development and management of water resources within the Valley. The
TA was to help in the early stages of implementation of appropriate cost recovery and tariff policies that was to be developed.
The policies were to cover surface water and groundwater use. A regulatory framework was to be created to monitor and
control water supply and wastewater tariffs, and the private sector management of urban water supplies within Kathmandu
Valley. The wastewater management plan for Kathmandu Valley (originally prepared in 1988) was to be reviewed and updated
after consultation with concerned stakeholders. A public awareness campaign, that included special attention on water
conservation, hygiene education, and the understanding of tariffs was to be prepared and implemented. Groundwater
licensing and monitoring was to be introduced in Kathmandu Valley. Institutional reforms were to ensure that the proposed
program of groundwater monitoring receive the necessary human and financial resources to be sustained in the long term.

Here is some discription of Tokha VDC which lies in Kathmandu Valley. Please send me a comment after reading this blogs.

INTRODUCTION:
Five Thousand years ago, at the dawn of history, the first civilization to emerge in the world was water civilization centered on the life-giving flows of rivers and their irrigation networks.

Water is the most important substance of all living being. Without water no organisms can live because every living creature depends upon water for the various activities like metabolism, absorption, digestion, transpiration etc. Water makes up the bulk of living things. Most animal consists of 80% to 90% water. All organisms either in water or obtain enough water to keep cellular machinery functioning. Man needs water for drinking and other domestic and industrial purpose.

Water requirements by the human may be stated broadly as:
1. Domestic Uses: On the domestic front, water is requiring for drinking, cooking, washing and bathing.
2. Public Purposes: Water is required for public cleaning, fire-fighting, maintenance of public garden and swimming pool and numerous other civil purposes.
3. Industrial Purposes: Without water these cannot be industrial development. Some industrial development. Some industries requires small amount of water but some may consume large quantities.
4. Agricultural Purposes: The food and raw material needed by the world cannot be raised without the water. Water is therefore an essential fact in the economic, social and cultural development of community.

A daily supply of 150 to 200 liters of water per head is considered an adequate allowance. The consumption of water however depends upon climatic condition, standard of living and habitats of the people. The larger the quantity and the better the quality water, the more rapid and extensive is the advance of public health.

Much of the ill health in under developed countries is largely due to lack of safe drinking water. These can be no state of positive community health and well being with safe water supply.

The quality of the water is of vital concern for mankind since it is directly linked with human welfare. It is a matter of history that faucal pollution of drinking water caused water borne disease which wiped but entire population of cities. At present, the menace of water borne disease and epidemic still looms large on horizons o developing countries in polluted water is the culprit in all such cases. The major sources of water pollution are domestic waste from urban and rural areas and industrial waste which are discharged into natural water bodies.

Generally speaking, water pollution is a state of deviation from the pure condition. Where by its normal function and properties are affected. Some signs of water pollution are bud taste of drinking water, offensive from lakes, rivers and ocean beaches, unchecked growth of aquatic weeds in water bodies, decrease in number of fish in fresh water, river water, sea water and oil and grease floating on water. Water pollution disturbs the normal uses of water for public water supply, recreation, aquatic wild life, agricultural and industry. Water pollution is the most serious environmental quality issue of Nepal. It is caused by the disposal of solid and liquid waste on land or into surface water. The most significant wastes are sewage, industrial effluent and agricultural residues and chemicals. Sewage originates primarily from domestic premises. Along with industrial effluent it is discharged untreated into streams and rivers through run off and open drains and directly via the public sewerage system. Pesticides, fertilizers and livestock are the main agricultural sources of ground and surface water pollution. Pollution of the drinking water is the most serious public health issue in Nepal. Drinking water supplies are polluted through run off into storage sites or cross leakage between overcrowded sewers lines and water pipes. Sewage is the primary causes of drinking water pollution.
Till 1950, drinking water supply was limited to the urban areas of Katmandu. Most of the 33 urban centers in the country have piped water (CBS 1989). However still many people use other source of water e.g.
1. Surface Water (a) Impounding Reservoirs (b) Rivers and streams (c) Tanks, Ponds and lakes.
2. Ground Water (a) Shallow wells (b) Deep wells (c) Springs

Surface waters are prone to serious contamination. Even temporary failure of the treatment system can result in an outbreak of water borne diseases. Reliable operators spare parts and uninterrupted supplies of fuel and chemicals are therefore a pre-requite of system based on surface water sources.



Study Area:
1. Location:
Tokha, lies in Katmandu district of Bagnmati zone of centeral development region. It consist of two VDCs ; northern- Chandeshwori VDC and Southern-Sarswoti VDC. It is situated at an altitude of 130 m, longitude of and latitude of . As per category in geographical region, this village is situated in mountain region.
The area is surrounded by:
East - Khadka Bhadrakali VDC
West - Phutung VDC
North - Jhor VDC
South - Dhapasi and Gongabu VDC
This village is 4km northern from Katmandu MPC or Samakhusi ring road.

2. Geology and Topography:
The study area lies in Mahabharat range, there is flat land on top and surround by slopes in all direction except North side, elevated part of jhor VDC and shivapuri national Park. As the study site lies within Kathmandu valley, the soil is lacustrine type.

3. Population:
The present population of this village is about 15000 as per census of 2058 B.S. Occupation of people here is Agricultural based and most adults are abroaded in Gulf countries in search of work.

4. Sanitation:
The sanitary condition of the village is not satisfactory due to the lack of Education. Mainly people get affected by the Water borne diseases like cholera, diarrhoea, Typhoid, Dysentery and Skin diseases.
5. Education:
Most people are illiterate; very few people (only 5) had achieved Master Degree in their related field. But number of students for higher education is being increasing past 3-4 year. As per education institution in this area, there are:
1 higher secondary School
5 Secondary Schools
1 Lower secondary School
All together 7 educational institutions.

6. Existing Water Supply Situation:
The water over the village is being supplied by the pipelines from the reservoirs made in shivapuri national park which is 1 km Northern from village. The collected water is redistributed with help of 30 common water taps dispersed in whole village. There is no other alternative of water suppliers in this area except ground water but none use this. If incase of boasting of pipelines are being contaminated whole villagers will suffer from drinking water deficiency and could lead serious problems with year pass. Population is being increasing and water demand could not be supplied by this storage only. There is limited source and people should wait in queue in dry season. These villagers have been facing acute situation for drinking water in dry season and suffers from turbidity of water during monsoon season.



Objectives Of Study:
To determine the physiochemical and microbial content of the drinking water.
To determine the water borne diseases affected people.
To concern consumers about the drinking water quality.