The phrase ‘There is no shortage of water resources in Nepal’ is often heard. It does not seem natural to have a shortage of water in a country filled with mountains, rivers and rain. However, the reality is different. Especially in the Kathmandu Valley, water shortage is still one of the biggest problems of daily life. In this context, the recently released political manifestos have raised new hopes in water management.

The manifesto of the National Independent Party (page 14) mentions the ambitious goal of ‘modern water supply, sanitation and environmental justice’. The manifesto mentions that by 2087 BS, clean drinking water will be provided to every citizen’s home 24 hours a day through a smart distribution system based on modern technology, completely replacing the traditional tap distribution system. In addition, a plan has been presented to build a scientific sewage system, transform waste management into a model, revitalize rivers and build state-of-the-art sanitation infrastructure.

Such a commitment shows the potential to take Nepal’s water management in a new direction. However, the question arises – how easy is it to achieve such a goal with the current situation and available data?

Nepal is a country with great potential to become self-reliant in basic resources such as water, agriculture and energy. However, political commitment alone is not enough for that. Let us look at some facts about the water situation in Kathmandu according to my study on ‘Impact of Melamchi floods on Kathmandu’s drinking water system’.

The biggest problem at present is – inadequate drinking water supply. Water shortage is particularly serious in urban areas like Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. According to the data of ‘Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited’, the daily demand for drinking water in the service sector is about 506 million liters. However, the average available supply is only about 240 million liters per day.

When calculated on a per capita basis, it is seen that only about 34 liters of water are available per person per day in Kathmandu Valley. In Tokyo, Japan, the daily water consumption is about 230 liters. That is, the citizens of Tokyo can use almost seven times more water than the citizens of Kathmandu.

According to the World Health Organization, a person needs at least 135 liters of water per day for normal living. In comparison, the water available in Kathmandu is less than a quarter of that. This indicates that Kathmandu's water crisis is not just a temporary problem but a long-term structural challenge. However, the problem is not limited to the quantity of water. The quality of the available water is also another challenge. The water distributed in many places is not directly drinkable. Bacterial or cloudy or foul-smelling water is a problem in Kathmandu. This means that the proper treatment and distribution system of the available resources has not yet become effective.

The third challenge is monsoon and disaster risk. The Melamchi project, which was carried out without sufficient long-term preparation, was seriously affected by the flash floods that occurred in 2021. The floods not only affected Kathmandu’s water supply, but also the relationship between the Melamchi project and the local community. The effects, such as delays in reconstruction, lack of local support, and a decline in trust, are still being felt today.

Research on this topic shows that even before the disaster, there were some fundamental weaknesses in the water management system. These problems can be understood from the perspective of ‘PUMI’ (pollution, urbanization, management, investment). Increasing urbanization, pollution, poor management, and inadequate investment have complicated the water management system. For example, it is not possible to completely stop urbanization. However, the problem is becoming more serious as the water supply system cannot be expanded to keep up with population growth. In addition, changes in lifestyle have increased water use. The demand for water is increasing due to the need to wash private vehicles, expanding household facilities, and increasing recreational activities.

Another important aspect of post-disaster studies is the lack of community and institutional support. It has been observed that cooperation will be weak if the local community does not realize sufficient benefits from the project. This can directly affect the safety of the ‘intake’ structure that brings water from the river. If the river ‘intake’ structure cannot be kept safe, the entire project may be disrupted for a long time, which will affect the water supply of Kathmandu.

International experience can also be learned to address such challenges. For example, in Japan, arrangements have been made to conserve water resources and provide benefits to local communities through the use of systems such as taxation and ‘Payment for Ecosystem Services’ (PES). This strengthens both water resource conservation and community participation.