I bet, I say for everyone when I say that our town Kathmandu really stinks - offensive that it may sound however it’s the bitter truth. Every denizens of Kathmandu passing through Bagmati and Bishnumati River with the frown in their face and with hands blocking their nose as an attempt to get protected from that awful smell must have definitely at some moment of time wondered that - “ONLY IF OUR RIVERS ARE AS PURE AS OUR RELIGION MAKES THEM”. We desperately need some solutions for our unmanaged wastewater- could DEWATS (Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System) be an option? DEWATS, with its simple nature based technologies and design, seems promising in Nepalese context. It might not be feasible in treating huge municipal level sewer. However, it definitely is simple enough for every homeowner to have it established in their garden or backyard as some object of beauty with the real substance in it to treat the beast in our wastewater making it a “Beauty with a substance!” in true sense.

Author: Luna K. Kansakar, Program Officer, Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO). E-mail: lunakasaa@hotmail.com

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The drinking water quality monitoring of Kathmandu Valley at different points of water supply chain (source, reservoir and tap) showed that 50% of the total source water samples (mainly groundwater) exceeded the National Drinking Water Quality Standards (NDWQS) 2005 value of iron and 28% samples exceeded ammonia concentration. Similarly, the result also infers that microbial contamination as another major problem in Kathmandu Valley’s piped water supply. Out of the total source water samples, 53% were found with microbial risk. Likewise, 31% of reservoirs’ samples and 25% of tap water samples were also found with microbial contamination. Free residual chlorine (FRC) concentration was detected less than guideline value in most of the reservoirs and taps which might be the main reason for microbial contamination at those points. A total of 181 water samples (81 sources, 16 reservoirs and 84 taps) were collected and analyzed in the first quarter of 2010.

Author: Yasoda Shrestha, Project Officer, Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO). E-mail: ritu64@hotmail.com

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More than 884 million people worldwide are living on unsafe drinking water and 2.6.billion without improved sanitation (WHO/UNICEF, 2010). Water and sanitation are not mere human necessities; we depend on it for our survival, which is why these have emerged as issues of people's basic right. People in developing world are dying from diarhhoeal diseases while people in developed parts of the world may find this hard to believe. The historic political change in Nepal has opened doors for a new constitution building process in the country, providing opportunity to civil society organisations to push for these rights. Entrusting people with their political rights is not enough; it has to go beyond those rights to guarantee them their general well being and sustainable development. Civil society has strived to actively engage in lobbying and advocacy for water and sanitation in the country. Civil society voices were collected and views presented on their behalf to the government at various national and regional forums. The press and media groups have joined hands with civil society to take forward this agenda as an active ally. Considering the role of the Committee on Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles (a committee under the constituent assembly committees), discussions were made with the Chairperson of this Committee on the importance and relevance of inclusion of improved sanitation and safe water as basic fundamental right in the constitution. The committee chairperson agreed that it is the responsibility of the state to provide these basic necessities to its people. As a result water and sanitation has been included in the draft constitution under fundamental rights section - Article 20. Nonetheless, as long as the constitution is not endorsed there is no guarantee that water and sanitation will find its due place in the constitution. "There are miles to go before we sleep".

Authors: Bharat Adhikari (E-mail: bharatadhikari@gmail.com) and Anamika Singh Bhandary (E-mail: singhana74@gmail.com) from Nepal Water for Health (NEWAH)

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Availability of adequate safe drinking water is one of the most basic of human needs for well-being and productive life. Health hazards caused by unsafe drinking water are recognized as one of the major problems in developing countries. Most of the water supply systems in Nepal both in urban and rural don’t have basic water treatment facilities. This has resulted in to frequent reports of faecal contamination in drinking water and outbreaks of waterborne diseases, particularly in monsoon. According to Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD)/Department of Health Services (DOHS) of the Government of Nepal, the epidemic that began in early May 2009 recorded nearly 80,000 diarrhoeal cases and claimed over 300 lives, the most affected was Jajarkot, hilly district in the Mid-west. Government and several national and international non-governmental organizations carried rapid response programme during the crisis phase of the epidemic. Disappointingly, the outbreaks of diarrhoea and some deaths in Jajarkot, Kanchanpur, Baitadi, Dailekh, Tanahun etc. have been reported with the onset of summer 2010. The government, concerned authorities and stakeholders should take this as a warning bell and show serious concern to take precautionary steps for mitigation and control measures through effective collaboration and coordination among WASH sector stakeholders. Hence, it is high time to plan and act for prevention of outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases keeping in mind the saying: ‘Prevention is better than cure!’

Author: Makhan Maharjan, Senior Programme Manager, Water Quality Programme, Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO). E-mail: makhan_maharjan@hotmail.com

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Unsafe water and sanitation is still one of the biggest environmental health risks for Nepal. Every year there are diarrheal and choleric outbreak in Nepal and one reverberating clamor is the huge number of death of children. This is a big professional and moral responsibility among the vanguards of water and sanitation professionals. Indeed the challenges are daunting, yet different mechanism and models exist to solve this burden of disease. These include raising awareness to general public on National Drinking Water Quality Standard (NDWQS), incorporating Water Safety Plans (WSP) to achieve NDWQS, building local entrepreneurship for sustainable promotion of Point of Use (POU) drinking water treatment options , water quality monitoring and database management, and so on. But the crux of these various method and mechanism stands on establishing simple yet effective communication mechanism to combat problems associated with poor water quality, inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices. In the wake of World Water Day 2010, let’s share the key messages, lessons learned, experiences, insights and innovative ideas on water quality and discuss to create simplicity out of complexity.

Author: Bipin Dangol, Program Manager, Water Quality Programme, Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO)

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The community people at grassroots are most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. Among them, women have the key role to ensure safe water for themselves and for their family. They are also responsible for good hygiene practice of their family. Thus, mainstreaming women's effort in the management of water resources is necessary. Sound water management system results easy access to safe water for women in the changing climate. This ultimately ensures health security of the family.

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Water and Environmental Sanitation_Economic Impact and Its Sustainability_TU_Master's Thesis_Pallab Raj Nepal.pdf  (515 kB)

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international sanitation year.pdf  (561 kB)