CHAPTER 1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Water resource, water supply and water quality in Nepal
Nepal is the 2nd richest country in water resource in the world, possessing about 2.27% of the
world water resource (CBS 1999). Despite this fact planned water supply was stated only in the
fourth plan (1970-1975). The national coverage of water supply system was only about 4% in
1970. A separate institution, the Department of Drinking Water Supply and Sewerage (DWSS)
was established during that period. By the end of water supply and sanitation decade (1990), the
coverage substantially increased to 36% of the total population, with the rural population and
urban population at 33% and 67% respectively. The recent Between Census Households
Information, Monitoring and Evaluation System (BCHIMES) report-2000 indicates water
coverage at 78% for rural and 92.3% for the urban population (Shrestha, 2003).
Sanitation facility is very poor condition having only 29% national coverage and issue on water
quality has not been given proper attention (Shrestha et.al, 2203). Rural communities continue to
use the most convenient source of water irrespective of quality. Regular outbreaks of water borne
epidemics and increasing number of patients being admitted to hospitals due to water related
diseases indicates that only supplying of drinking water is not sufficient to improve public health
status unless continued effort is made both on water supply and sanitation.
Nepal water resources are considerable with surface run-off in the order of 200 km3 annually. In
general, there is very little rainfall from November to January. In addition to surface water,
Nepal's ground water resources are also extensive.
In Nepal, the guideline value for national drinking water quality standard has been suggested by
Pyakural (1994) and Task Force (1995)
14
, Table: 1 Proposed Drinking Water Quality in Nepal
Parameters Goal Acceptable
PH 6.5 6.5-9.2
Color (Pt-Cu scale) 15 30
Turbidity (NTU) 5 10
Manganese, Mn (mg/lit) 0.1 0.5
Iron, Fe (mg/lit) 0.3 3
Copper, Cu (mg/lit) 1 5
Chloride, Cl (mg/lit) 250 1000
Arsenic, As (mg/lit) 0.05 -
Cyanide, Cn (mg/lit) 0.07 0.2
Lead, Pb (mg/lit) 0.01 0.1
Mercury, Hg (mg/lit) 0.001 0.002
(Source: ENPHO magazine)
Situation of Arsenic Contamination in Nepal:
Arsenic-contamination in the groundwater of Terai in Nepal is now becoming a new challenge
for the nation's water supply sector. According to the arsenic database prepared by the National
Arsenic Steering Committee as of November 2003, 7% of the 28956 tubes wells tested so far are
found to contain arsenic levels above the national limit of 50 ppb . (Greater than 20% are above
WHO limit of 10 ppb). Studies have also indicated that the arsenic distribution is not uniform
throughout the country. Many of the villages in Nawalparasi and Rautahat districts and some of
the villages in other Terai districts (Bara, Parsa, Siraha, Saptari, Kapilbastu, Rupandehi, Bardiya
and Kailali) are found to be highly affected by arsenic (ENPHO Magazine 2004). Continued
consumption of arsenic contaminated water generally leads to numerous diseases, including skin
cancer, gangrene, hematological poisoning, cardiovascular and nervous disorders. The lungs,
genitourinary tract, and other organs may also be affected. There is currently no clinical treatment
for arsenic toxicity in the human body other than to stop arsenic intake.
15
Water resource, water supply and water quality in Nepal
Nepal is the 2nd richest country in water resource in the world, possessing about 2.27% of the
world water resource (CBS 1999). Despite this fact planned water supply was stated only in the
fourth plan (1970-1975). The national coverage of water supply system was only about 4% in
1970. A separate institution, the Department of Drinking Water Supply and Sewerage (DWSS)
was established during that period. By the end of water supply and sanitation decade (1990), the
coverage substantially increased to 36% of the total population, with the rural population and
urban population at 33% and 67% respectively. The recent Between Census Households
Information, Monitoring and Evaluation System (BCHIMES) report-2000 indicates water
coverage at 78% for rural and 92.3% for the urban population (Shrestha, 2003).
Sanitation facility is very poor condition having only 29% national coverage and issue on water
quality has not been given proper attention (Shrestha et.al, 2203). Rural communities continue to
use the most convenient source of water irrespective of quality. Regular outbreaks of water borne
epidemics and increasing number of patients being admitted to hospitals due to water related
diseases indicates that only supplying of drinking water is not sufficient to improve public health
status unless continued effort is made both on water supply and sanitation.
Nepal water resources are considerable with surface run-off in the order of 200 km3 annually. In
general, there is very little rainfall from November to January. In addition to surface water,
Nepal's ground water resources are also extensive.
In Nepal, the guideline value for national drinking water quality standard has been suggested by
Pyakural (1994) and Task Force (1995)
14
, Table: 1 Proposed Drinking Water Quality in Nepal
Parameters Goal Acceptable
PH 6.5 6.5-9.2
Color (Pt-Cu scale) 15 30
Turbidity (NTU) 5 10
Manganese, Mn (mg/lit) 0.1 0.5
Iron, Fe (mg/lit) 0.3 3
Copper, Cu (mg/lit) 1 5
Chloride, Cl (mg/lit) 250 1000
Arsenic, As (mg/lit) 0.05 -
Cyanide, Cn (mg/lit) 0.07 0.2
Lead, Pb (mg/lit) 0.01 0.1
Mercury, Hg (mg/lit) 0.001 0.002
(Source: ENPHO magazine)
Situation of Arsenic Contamination in Nepal:
Arsenic-contamination in the groundwater of Terai in Nepal is now becoming a new challenge
for the nation's water supply sector. According to the arsenic database prepared by the National
Arsenic Steering Committee as of November 2003, 7% of the 28956 tubes wells tested so far are
found to contain arsenic levels above the national limit of 50 ppb . (Greater than 20% are above
WHO limit of 10 ppb). Studies have also indicated that the arsenic distribution is not uniform
throughout the country. Many of the villages in Nawalparasi and Rautahat districts and some of
the villages in other Terai districts (Bara, Parsa, Siraha, Saptari, Kapilbastu, Rupandehi, Bardiya
and Kailali) are found to be highly affected by arsenic (ENPHO Magazine 2004). Continued
consumption of arsenic contaminated water generally leads to numerous diseases, including skin
cancer, gangrene, hematological poisoning, cardiovascular and nervous disorders. The lungs,
genitourinary tract, and other organs may also be affected. There is currently no clinical treatment
for arsenic toxicity in the human body other than to stop arsenic intake.
15
