Rainwater harvesting ‘to ease water scarcity’
VARIOUS
organisations working in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)
sector in the country have stressed the need to include rainwater
harvesting in the Integrated Water Resource Management Strategy. On the
occasion of World Water Day celebrated every year on March 22, WASH
sector organisations are strongly advocating rainwater harvesting and
recharge activities as an important tool for minimising waterrelated
problems that plague many parts of the country, particularly urban
areas. With growing population and rapid urbanisation, compounded by
poor management, water shortage is aggravating in the dry season. The
Kathmandu valley faces the problem all the year round. It is estimated
that the Valley, with a total population of 3.2 million, has the demand
for 320 million liters of water per day (mld) while the Kathmandu
Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), solely responsible for the utility,
supplies only 90 mld in the dry season and 150 mld in the rainy season.
It’s time for all the concerned partners to share knowledge and
experience for promoting rainwater harvesting, improving safe water
supply services, and conserving water where it is scarce, said Anil
Sthapit, director at Guthi, the organisation working on the water and
sanitation sector. Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme,
in coordination with the Coca Cola Company, is planning to construct
rainwater harvesting and restoration systems in 15 areas and one
residential area in Kathmandu. Some 120 similar systems have been
planned in Lalitpur to be implemented within this year. According to
officials, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City is also planning to introduce
mandatory provisions of approving only those house maps that
incorporate a rainwater harvesting mechanism. In the recent years, as
part of providing an alternative and viable solution to the worsening
water crisis, various municipalities, along with concerned
organisations, have been promoting rainwater harvest. WORLD WATER DAY
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