By Sagar Tamrakar

© the boss photo file/Sanchit Lamichhane

DRINKING
MANAGEMENT
In search of solutions and sources…

It’s
a no-brainer that water being an indispensable source of energy constituting around 80
percent of the human body mass, is crucial for the survival of the human race and has no
substitute. But because of rapid urbanisation and industrialisation, it has become difficult to
access safe drinking water, especially in the cities.
In the case of Kathmandu valley, there’s indeed an acute shortage of drinking water—the valley is
able to supply only one-third of the demand during the wet season, while in the dry season, it is able to
supply only one-fourth. Adding to the scarcity is the fact that as much as 20 percent of water gets lost
due to leakage.
to subscribe online: www.readtheboss.com 15 Nov - 14 Dec 2010 the boss 39
 DRINKING
WATER
MANAGEMENT

© the boss photo file/Sanchit Lamichhane

THE KUKL STORY KUKL has the mandate to upgrade the water
In the valley’s quest to find a solution to network of the valley and also to tap alternative
the serious problem of drinking water sources of drinking water until the much- “THE MORE
shortage, the government-owned Nepal delayed MWSP becomes operational. But DELAYS THERE
Drinking Water Corporation was scrapped, KUKL has come a cropper, not only in its ARE WITH
and an autonomous authority called attempts to tap alternative water sources, but MWSP, THE
Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani (KUKL) was also in managing the existing water supply MORE
established according to the Company Act network, leading to a severe crisis, as also to SCARCITY WE
2063—as per the recommendation of the controversies. WILL FACE—
Asian Development Bank, the major donor to That said, the formation of KUKL is viewed THE THREE-
the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP). as a major breakthrough in the area of Private- FOUR DAYS’ DISTRIBUTION
INTERVAL WILL INCREASE TO
Total Consumer and Production of water SEVEN-EIGHT DAYS.”
SN Branch Government Private Government Private Stand post Total Suresh Acharya
Connection Connection Connection Connection
Metered Metered Non-metered Non-metered spokesperson, KUKL
1 Tripureshwor 187 16,426 2398 137 19,256
2 Chhetrapati 42 11,445 9 1464 180 13,140 Public Partnership models—with the private
3 Maharajgunj 50 23,953 51 2026 173 26,253 players enjoying a say in the formulation of
4 Mahankal Chaur 73 20,736 45 4832 137 25,823 its policies and bylaws. Formally, KUKL is a
5 Baneshwor 135 22,026 21 1180 32 23,394 public company registered under the Nepal
6 Kamaladi 145 5366 30 221 20 5782 Government’s Company Act 2063; it is in
7 Lalitpur 29,192 32 3984 314 33,522 charge of managing the water supply and
8 Bhaktapur 34 7755 11 466 203 8469 sanitation systems of the valley operated by
9 Madhyapur Thimi 18 5396 6 5420 the Nepal Water Supply Corporation, and is
10 Kirtipur 10 5536 81 5627 mandated to provide quantitative, qualitative
Total 694 147,831 313 16,652 1196 166,686 and reliable service to the consumer at
Region wise distribution of the number of customers of KUKL in the FY 2008/09 affordable prices. KUKL runs these services
which is 6285 more than that of the FY 2007/08 under a 30-year license and lease agreement
with the Kathmandu Valley Water Supply
SN Place Capacity Management Board (KVWSMB); it is
1 Mahankal Water Purifying Centre 26.5 MLD responsible for the maintenance of all assets
2 Bansbari Water Purifying Centre 22 MLD received on lease from KVWSMB. The
3 Bode Manahara Water Purifying Centre 20.6 MLD shareholders of KUKL and their respective
4 Balaju Water Purifying Centre 10 MLD initial shares are: the government (30
5 Sundarijal Water Purifying Centere 21 MLD percent), the valley’s municipalities (50
percent), business management
Capacity of five major water purifying centres of KUKL.
Its total capacity is 117 MLD from 14 other small scale purifying centres. organisations (15 percent)—inclusive of

40 the boss 15 Nov - 14 Dec 2010

FNCCI (3 percent), Lalitpur Chamber of
Commerce (1.5 percent), Nepal Chamber of
Commerce (9 percent) and Bhaktapur
Chamber of Commerce (1.5 percent)—and
employee trust (five percent, to be paid by
the government).
But for all its mandate, KUKL’s stance is
that it can be a success only if the Melamchi
Water Supply Project delivers. “In the quest
for a solution to the drinking water problem
of Kathmandu valley, there exists no
substitute for the Melamchi Water Supply
Project,” says an emphatic Suresh Acharya,
the spokesperson of KUKL. “The more delays
there are with MWSP, the more scarcity we
will face—the three-four days’ distribution
interval will increase to seven-eight days.”
But he also expresses a vague sense of hope:
“If the MWSP’s Project Implementation
Directorate (PID) performs as per our
expectations—but that depends to a large
extent on funds—we are hopeful of a better
water supply scenario in the coming days.”
But the PID Director Suman P Sharma
does not agree with Acharya’s contention that
MWSP is the only way out. He says,
“Melamchi is not the only solution, yes, it is
one such activity and a highly advanced one
at that; other efforts too are necessary. The
scale of demand sought by the exuberant
urban growth in Kathmandu is so high that
the Melamchi project alone will in no way
suffice.” This view finds some kind of backing
from Prakash Amatya, the managing director
of NGO Forum: “There are several options.
You have to look at several solutions
simultaneously. For example, the Melamchi
deal itself evolved out of 20 other options
that were explored; Melamchi was arrived at
because it was more certain to be completed
than the rest. If Melamchi gets delayed in
this manner, we can look at other options.
Ishwor Raj Onta of the Nepal Drinking Water
Project (NDWP) had said in his ‘Optimisation
of Water in Kathmandu Valley’ that Rain Water
Harvesting (RWH) in foothills by making check
dams so as to conserve water, which can meet
the water demand of the valley to a great
degree.”
KUKL Spokesperson Acharya points out
to the issues affecting his company’s
effectiveness. “KUKL has not been able to
supply more than half of the demand because
water production and distribution to a
growing urban population is highly capital
intensive; also, the water sources have
shrunk.” He also doesn’t fail to point out the
financial beating that KUKL has taken. He says,
“KUKL has been bearing an annual operational
loss worth Rs 40-50 million, which we’ve been
asking the government to compensate. This
is because we have been charging a minimum
“THERE IS A
BIG QUESTION infrastructure development. We have also
MARK ON been looking at increasing water production
KUKL’S by extracting from new tube wells; although
LEGITIMACY we have been able to get three million litres
BECAUSE IT more water annually, this has been
HAS NOT insignificant in the context of the 12-15
AUDITED ITS percent growth in demand every year.” He
FINANCIAL REPORTS AND HAS informs that the directives and policies of
NOT CONDUCTED ITS AGM FOR urban water management are under the
THE LAST TWO YEARS.” purview of the Kathmandu Valley Water Supply
Prakash Amatya Management Board. Further, he says, “As a
managing director, NGO Forum part of financial empowerment, we have fitted
27,000 new meters. The old meters had worn
out.” KUKL distributes water through 10
rate as hiking the tariff is beyond KUKL’s places in the valley—Tripureshwor,
authority.” Mahankalchaur, Baneshwor, Kamaladi,
But Amatya does not buy Acharya’s Chhetrapati, Maharajgunj, Kirtipur,
position on KUKL’s finances. “Over the three Madhyapur, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur; the
years that KUKL has been operating, it has amount of water that is supplied to these
been able to generate revenue. But publicly, places depends on the population density.
it states it is under loss. It has spent KUKL as a project is being implemented
exorbitantly on purchasing vehicles and on by PID. About the progress of the project,
participating in trainings abroad.” Acharya PID director Sharma says, “Those works that
defends the training expenditure. He says, need to be completed immediately, the PID
“As a preliminary preparation for MWSP, a will do so within 2009-2013 (Phase I). This is
capacity-building programme is underway at actually a ‘first-aid’ treatment to the areas
KUKL under the guidance of a foreign experts’ facing extreme water scarcity; we have been
team. Our employees are being trained as a sealing leakages, managing the pipelines and
part of this capacity-building programme.” improving the intake area—all as per priority.
However, Amatya is convinced of KUKL’s PID also manages the funds to execute these
financial impropriety. He alleges, “There is a works.” Indeed, a lot of rehabilitation
big question mark on KUKL’s legitimacy measures have to be undertaken in the valley
because it has not audited its financial reports ahead of the completion of the Melamchi
and has not conducted its AGM for the last project. There is a massive 400-km water
two years. The KUKL regime under its MD distribution network that has to be
Rudra Gautam is in a state of blatant maintained properly; if not, even Melamchi’s
malfunction.” arrival would not make any difference. Sharma
About the developments in KUKL, clarifies, “PID is engaged in rehabilitating the
Acharya clarifies, “KUKL sees the delay in major distribution chains by 2012. Other
MWSP and the rising demand as a big infrastructure enhancement works will be
challenge, and has been working towards carried on till 2016. Then, we plan to enter
water-network rehabilitation and the long-term phase which will continue till
2025 to further enhance the network to the
new settlements.”
Addressing the issue of the messy water
“WE ARE VERY management scenario, Sharma quips, “There
HOPEFUL exists an immense problem in Kathmandu
ABOUT which cannot be addressed in a short span of
GETTING THE time because the problems have accumulated
FUND AND ARE over a century’s span! The growth of the city
ZEALOUSLY has taken place in a haphazard manner and so
INVOLVED IN has been its water supply system. We are
PREPARATORY now engaged in simple ‘first-aid’ patch work.”
WORK SUCH AS Meanwhile, PID has undertaken a
DOCUMENTATION, FEASIBILITY demonstration project at Baneshwor-Min
STUDIES AND DESIGN.” Bhawan area, where it has been discharging
Suman P Sharma water in continuous pressure, and taking
director, PID reports from the consumers as well as
comprehending how the system is coping.
to subscribe online: www.readtheboss.com 15 Nov - 14 Dec 2010 the boss 41
 DRINKING
WATER
MANAGEMENT
Sharma points out, “The area was chosen
because it is a new settlement with relatively
well-planned settings and higher affordability.
In addition, the area is still growing in terms
of the population density, which allows us to
measure the population and demand growth
patterns—this won’t be possible to practise
in oversaturated habitats. Plus, there is a new
reservoir built in the Min Bhawan area with
which the water supply has become efficient.”
Another task the PID is involved in is “cluster
removal” by widening the main pipeline and
distributing water via short connections from
it, which Sharma says, is in order to control
leakages (caused by “spaghetti connections”)
by reducing the number of joints. Cluster-
removal works are now going on in the Gokarna
area. Another work that is underway is tube-
well rehabilitation. Besides, at Kusunti and
Kalopul, PID is conducting pipe network
testing, documentation and design-setting
procedures. Intake improvement and capacity
building to handle the wet season water
volume is also going on. Sharma says, “These
programmes are being carried out with an
annual expense of 10 million dollars. These
‘first-aid’ rehabilitation processes in selected
sites, which are being financed by the budget
residue of MWSP, will be accomplished by
2012 and then only will we be able to move
to the massive rehabilitation and capacity-
42 the boss 15 Nov - 14 Dec 2010
building processes in the Phase II programmes
throughout the valley—but that depends on
whether we get a loan of 100 million dollars.
We are very hopeful about getting the fund
and are zealously involved in preparatory work
such as documentation, feasibility studies and
design.”
WAITING FOR MELAMCHI
The big question is: when Melamchi
finally arrives, are the systems in place to
absorb its water properly? Sharma comes up
with a qualified reply: “Yes, regarding the
network spread of 477 km, but regarding the
number of reservoirs, we are still not
prepared; we need more reservoirs in areas
like Bansbari, Balaju and Balkhu.” Amatya
observes a big flaw in KUKL’s plans and argues,
“The Special Assistance for Project
Implementation (SAPI) II for KUKL saw the
requirement to construct seven reservoirs for
Kathmandu valley. KUKL’s estimated water
demand in Kathmandu is 32 crore litres (80 l
per capita for the population of 4 million), but
that demand has been found to be much higher
by a survey which stated that the per capita
use of water in a fully plumbed house getting
24X7 water supply is 94 l/day and that of
squatter settlements is 25 l/day. The figure of
40-percent leakage as arrived at by a World
Bank-assisted estimation is also erroneous
© the boss photo file/Nibendra Pradhananga
because it also included unpaid water supply
bills which is evident in Bhaktapur where all
stone spouts are supplied with pipe water.
The Leakage Detection Unit in KUKL has
identified ‘mechanical leakage’ of only 20
percent which is normal for a city like
Kathmandu. These estimations reveal that
SAPI II and even Melamchi would not have
been necessary if we could manage the water
resources in the valley properly. Thus, the
Japanese donor agency cancelled the SAPI II
project then and there. Look, ninety-nine
percent of the taps are supplied water through
0.5 inch pipes, be it in multiplexes, industrial
estates or whatever; KUKL should classify the
“DISPERSING
POWER AMONG
THE
PARTICIPANTS
CAN BE DONE
BY
FORMALISING
WATER RIGHTS
IN THE LOCAL DEMOCRATIC
INSTITUTIONS.”
Ganga Chaulagain
focal person, PPPUE- Hetauda Municipality
users and charge tariff accordingly.”
The water source schemes identified in
Kathmandu are: Tri Bhim Dhara Scheme that
looks at water from sources in places like Bode,
Bhandare, Chhahare, Panchmane and Alle; Bir
Dhara Scheme that looks at sources like
Shivapuri Water Intake and Bishnumati Water
Intake; Sundarijal Scheme; Bhaktapur Scheme
where Mahadev Khola is the source; Pharping
Scheme where Shesh Narayan, Kutori Mul,
Satmul, Hitidol and Dallu Spring are the
sources; and Chapagaon Scheme where
Charghare, Basuki I/II, Nallu, and Muldol are
the water sources. Sharma points out, “Some
of these sources have worn out, delivering less
volume of water; therefore, PID plans to
rehabilitate them by building new reservoirs,
repairing the old ones and making the diameter
of the pipes larger. In this regard, we have
placed Bhandare and Chhahare sources of the
Tri Bhim Dhara Scheme as well as Sundarijal in
the category of Immediate Improvement I.”
Similarly, the Bhaktapur and Chapagaun
schemes have been placed in the category
“Immediate Improvement II”, while the
sources in the inner valley like Kalimati,
Balkumari and Katunje have been kept in
“Immediate Improvement I/II” categories.
Meanwhile, new tube wells in places like
Gongabu, Vice President’s Office (Kantipath),
Mahankalchaur and Tigini have also been
installed to meet the water demand at the
community level in the valley.
Sharma says, “KUKL has adopted a vision
that sustains Kathmandu’s water supply
system till 2025, and PID has been given the
deadline of 17 April 2016 to accomplish the
assignments. There exists a lot of challenges
regarding the rehabilitation of the water-
network system such as narrow lanes and high
traffic that forbids us from unearthing the
lanes; then there’s the problem of lack of
data on ducts (telephone, electricity or even
water ducts) laid underground.”
Indeed, the challenges are plenty, but
whether these would be met in a timely and
proper manner is perhaps the biggest
challenge. As far as adequate water supply to
the valley is concerned, there’s no time to
wait—Melamchi or no Melamchi.
Water supply systems operated under
PPPUE and consumers’ committee
Public-Private Partnerships for Urban
Environment (PPPUE) is a nationally executed
UNDP project implemented by the Ministry
of Local Development. The project started its
operation in March 2002. The revised second
phase of the project commenced in January
2010 and will conclude by December 2012.
The objective of the PPPUE project is: to
increase the access of the urban poor to basic
services; contribute to the creation of a
healthy environment; and to improve the
living conditions in urban and peri-urban areas
of Nepal—all this by promoting partnerships
between public and private sectors.
Ganga Chaulagain, focal person, PPPUE,
Hetauda municipality, says, “ These
partnerships became inevitable with the rise
in settlements and because the state-run
Drinking Water Corporation could not reach
out to every nook and corner. Also for the
squatters, there’s no other means of water
supply than through these arrangements.”
Chaulagain has been involved in organising
awareness campaigns for the squatters and
working out the policies required for such
approaches to water supply. She points out,
“The consumers’ inactivity or poor
participation in the maintenance work as and
“THE MAJORITY
OF DWELLERS
CANNOT
AFFORD THE
SERVICE, AND
THUS RELY ON
A PUBLIC TAP
OWNED BY THE
BHUTANDEVI COMMUNITY
FOREST CONSUMERS
COMMITTEE.”
Phulmaya Gurung
secretary, NDWUC
when required may lead to malfunctioning of
the water supply system. Even if a committee
is formed through an election, there are
chances of a faction in the community showing
poor output in the system. In order that these
situations do not persist in the system, we
conduct coordination workshops at the
community level.” Chaulagain lays a deal of
emphasis on collective action. She says,
“Dispersing power among the participants can
be done by formalising water rights in the
local democratic institutions. This would have
the effect of increasing the sense of collective
benefit from collective action. The goal of
increasing equity could be built into the
systems of water rights from their inception.”
This often requires not only formal democratic
procedures, but also strong political
commitment towards the rights and
entitlements of the less-advantaged water
users. A challenge that Chaulagain faces while
working at the grassroot level is that the
community lacks the time and/or resources
to indulge in public purposes because the
majority of the beneficiaries under the PPPUE
scheme are people who survive on daily wages
to subscribe online: www.readtheboss.com 15 Nov - 14 Dec 2010 the boss 43
and cannot afford to deliver time/resources
for the water supply system. Therefore, to
overcome this circumstance, she gives
income-generating training to the participants
for their sustenance.
PPPUE-FUNDED NEURENI
DRINKING WATER SUPPLY
(NDWS)
Neureni area is situated in Ward 10 of
Hetauda municipality east of the Rapti River.
About 165 very poor squatter households
have been living in the area for the past 20
years. Nepal Water Supply Corporation
(NWSC) has been extracting groundwater
from the area within the settlement and
supplying water to the city. The NWSC had
installed one public tap, but the water was
not sufficient for the whole community. In
the wake of the unavailability of safe water or
easy access to water, the community was
unable to maintain a healthy environment.
Therefore, with financial support from
Hetauda municipality and PPPUE, the Neureni
Drinking Water Project (NDWP) was initiated
to provide safe drinking water to the poor
community under the PPP arrangement.
Neureni Drinking Water Users’ Committee
(NDWUC) was formulated to oversee the
construction of the tank, pump house and
distribution system, and to operate and
manage the project. The community also
made cash and labour contribution during the
construction.
NDWS started its operation eight months
back and has distributed 25 taps till now. “We
have a target of distributing 100 pipelines by
Dashain,” says Phurba Lama, advisor,
NDWUC. The capacity of the tank is 30,000
litres which gets filled by pumping straight
from the persistent surface and groundwater.
But there’s a problem—Phulmaya Gurung,
secretary, NDWUC, points it out: “The majority
of dwellers cannot afford the service, and thus
rely on a public tap owned by the Bhutandevi
Community Forest Consumers Committee.
Two families own private wells and eight
families own tube wells here. Taking into
consideration health and hygiene issues, we
have been convincing everyone to install pipe
lines. But the dwellers prefer tube-well water
over pipe water saying that the former is
cooler than the latter.”
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
Overhead water tank, a pump house and
pipeline distribution system was constructed
under the supervision of the users’
committee. Water from the well is pumped
 DRINKING
WATER
MANAGEMENT

© the boss photo file/Shankar Byanjankar

to the newly constructed overhead water tank
and distributed through a pipe line and
individual water tap in 150 households. The
water in the well has been tested and certified
safe for drinking. The users’ committee is
responsible for the operation and
management of this drinking water project.
UNDP also provided training on maintenance
and purification. Sanitation maintenance of
the intake area and the tank is being
undertaken by Urban Institutional
Development Programme (UIDP).
TARIFF
The installation charge amounts to Rs
“THE ONE
SERIOUS
PROBLEM IS OF
PUMPING
WATER UPHILL
TO THE TANK
FROM THE
KHOLSI DURING
LOAD-SHEDDING HOURS”
Devi Lal Acharya
chairperson, DKDWUC
44 the boss 15 Nov - 14 Dec 2010
5,000, which includes piping and tap fitting.
The minimum monthly charge is Rs 100,
“RELEVANT
which accounts for up to 10,000 litres, and
POLICIES,
beyond that it costs Rs 15 per 1000 litres.
LEGISLATIONS
AND
SUSTAINABILITY
DIRECTIVES
A minimum user’s fee is collected for
maintenance and long-term sustainability, and
FOR DRIVING
the users’ committee is responsible for the
THE PROJECT
fee collection. The Hetauda municipality is
ARE STILL TO
monitoring and supervising the project to BE FORMULATED, THE LACK OF
ensure its smooth functioning. But Lama says, WHICH HAS CREATED
“Relevant policies, legislations and directives PROBLEMS IN THE OPERATION
for driving the project are still to be OF THE PROJECT.”
formulated, the lack of which has created Phurba Lama
problems in the operation of the project. advisor, NDWUC
Besides, the consumers need to be activated
in terms of the importance of clean drinking the piping was done by the municipality and
water supply.” Water-borne diseases like external sources.” But this supply could only
jaundice and diarrhoea are prevalent in the run well for the first 12 months, following
region. which the area was hit by water scarcity,
especially during the dry seasons between
DAMAI KHOLSI DWUC, the Nepali months of Falgun and Baisakh, says
MARTYR’S MEMORIAL PARK, Acharya. The tariff is Rs 10 per month per
HETAU household, and Rs 1500 per month for a nearby
According to Devi Lal Acharya, community to which, too, the DKDWUC has
chairperson, DKDWUC, “Altogether 35 taps been supplying water. Acharya says, “The park
have been installed in all the households along authorities have been making timely financial
the park. The tank capacity is 85,000 litres, contributions and have also been conducting
which is filled directly from the rivulet (kholsi); awareness programmes. Every three months,
we clean up the tank.” However, the one
serious problem is of pumping water uphill
to the tank from the kholsi during load-
shedding hours.
JIMMA DANDA AND TALLO TAAL
(JDTT) DWUC, NAWALPUR,
HETAUDA
JDTTDWUC is a big drinking water project
supplying to eight DWUCs. It supplies water
from the lake by applying the intra-tank
filtration method. Krishna P Uprety, advisor,
JDTTDWUC, says, “This exemplary filter was
installed at a cost of Rs 270,000. So far, we
have faced no problem with the water supply
because the source is perennial, and we have
also installed meters. The tariff is Rs five per
1000 litres, and Rs 20 per unit when
consumption crosses 17,000 litres.”
GTZ-FUNDED DHULIKHEL
DRINKING WATER SUPPLY
(DDWS)
A contract for the construction of this
scheme was signed in 1987 between the
governments of Nepal and Germany, and
mediated by UDLE (Urban Development
through Local Efforts). With a total cost of Rs
25.7 million, 90 percent of which was funded
by the Town Development Fund of GTZ, five
percent by GoN and five percent by
consumers, the project was completed in
1992. The project was designed for 25 years
to serve the people of Dhulikhel Municipality
Wards 1, 6, 7 partially and Wards 2,3,4,5
completely, but because of rapid urbanisation,
the capacity of the infrastructure has not been
able to cope with the demand and the supply
has limited to 3 hpd which was 24 hpd until
six-seven years back. The source of this water,
the Saptakanya stream in Ward 3 of Bhumidada
village located in the south-east of Phulchoki
hill, is perennial.
Krishna Bhushan Khoju Shrestha,
chairperson, DDWUC, says, “The locals’ active
participation in the initiation, planning,
implementation and organisation/
management of the project are the key assets.
Certain technical and financial help was also
received from the District Drinking Water and
Sanitation Office during the construction
period.” The project was formally handed over
to the users’ committee (DDWUC) on 7 July
1992 and since then, the committee has been
in charge of the management of the scheme
and the delivery of drinking water. Initially,
DDWUC was formed voluntarily representing
local personnel. But once the committee was
formed in 1992, and after the first elections
to the committee were conducted in 1993 on
the basis of ‘one-tap-one-vote’ mandate, the
elections have been conducted every four
“SO FAR, WE
HAVE FACED initially Rs 10 and which is now Rs 105 per 10
NO PROBLEM unit consumption. Revenue worth Rs 7.5-eight
WITH THE million is being generated annually, while the
WATER SUPPLY maintenance cost is dependent on the wearing
BECAUSE THE and tearing caused.” The installation charge
SOURCE IS for a pipeline is Rs 5,500 which includes Rs
PERENNIAL, 2,000 for the meter, Rs 2,500 as deposit and
AND WE HAVE ALSO INSTALLED Rs 1,000 for fitting. There are a total of 16
METERS.” board members including two nominated
Krishna P Uprety members - one from the municipality and one
advisor, JDTTDWUC from the board, and 18 employees. The
eighteen employees comprise of an engineer,
two accountants, four guards and nine
years. DDWUC seems a good example of plumbers. The annual operational cost of the
water supply management conducted by a office is worth Rs three million. Shrestha says,
users’ committee. “The total compensation for the source village
since the inception of the project has amounted
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM to Rs 10 million—and this compensation is in
The 500,000-litre reservoir is located 14 terms of programmes and projects like
km away from the source and is fed by water “Education for All”, and building roads and a
through roughing and slow sand filters of bridge in the village. We have also managed to
250,000 litres’ capacity each. The discharge arrange for a government fund worth Rs 11.7
capacity of DDWS is 13 litres per second. million for bridge building in the village.”
Every household is supplied water through a
0.5-inch pipe, and hotels have been provided CONSUMER COMPLAINTS
multiple pipelines according to the number The major consumer complaints are
of blocks that they have. The population of differential water discharge and also discharge
the municipality was 11,000 as per the 2000 of air which too activates the meter. Shrestha
demographic survey and would have increased says, “These are chiefly caused by the
by 1500 by now, thus DDWS is serving 40 mountainous topography of the area.” The
litres water per capita. challenges, he says are the disputes at the local
level. On the distribution side, the pipes
TARIFF AND OTHER ACCOUNTS occasionally burst being unable to withstand
Shrestha says, “After the initial funding, the water pressure. Shrestha points out, “In
the system has been running in a self-sustained the course of town planning work, pipes were
manner with the collection of tariff which was accidentally cut by locals and were not repaired.
Our German ductile pipes are of a fine quality,
and we do not get them in our market; therefore,
“THE LOCALS’ any harm to them costs us really hard.”
ACTIVE
PARTICIPATION SUSTAINABILITY
Shrestha shares, “For the timely
IN THE
enhancement of the reservoir as per the
INITIATION,
growing demand, we are seeking donors. GTZ
PLANNING,
has currently halted funding for projects like
IMPLEMENTATION
they did before. Another government project
AND
called “Kavre Valley Integrated Drinking
ORGANISATION/MANAGEMENT
Water Supply” has just started and it will aid
OF THE PROJECT ARE THE KEY
in coping with the rising demand. DDWUC
ASSETS. CERTAIN TECHNICAL
has reserves of Rs 14 million that have been
AND FINANCIAL HELP WAS ALSO
kept untouched for use in case of a disaster,
RECEIVED FROM THE DISTRICT
and we have not thought of using it in
DRINKING WATER AND
reservoir enhancement.” Rameshore Parajuli,
SANITATION OFFICE DURING
project manager, DDWUC, says, “There is
THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.”
room for improvement in DDWUC as far as
Krishna Bhushan Khoju its office operations are concerned. We are
Shrestha planning for a computerised billing system, a
chairperson, DDWUC store inventory and installation of MIS for
efficiency in office work.”
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