Kathmandu is a thirsty city. Its residents don't have enough water to drink. The city of more than three million needs 320 million liters of water per day. But existing system can meet just a fourth of this requirement, forcing a large mass of Kathmandu denizens to depend either on groundwater or 389 stone spouts (of which 45 no longer exist and 68 have gone dry). Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), Nepal's water supplier, has failed to meet the valley's needs. To compensate, KUKL supplies water through water tankers to various areas and distributes it for free, which is again not enough.At public taps, you can see people making a beeline with their jars and pitchers, jostling to fill their vessels. Sometimes scuffles break out in the race to get a jar full of water. Unable to get enough water, people—especially poor renters—either have to depend on stone spouts for washing or go to nearby river and make do with filthy water. Another proof of serious water scarcity is widespread use of jarred or bottled water in individual houses, offices and eateries. Since this comes under various brands with differing price levels, it is hard to know whether bottled water is safe.
The population of Kathmandu is increasing at 4.7 percent a year, and with it water demands have risen as well. Melamchi project that started in 1998 has failed to take off. Many have given up on it. Even if Melamchi is completed some day, Kathmandu's water needs will have increased several folds by then, mainly due to population growth. Similar is the case of other cities.
Sadly, millions of liters of water are being wasted every year. I am not talking about the leakage—which, according to a study, accounts for 70 percent of lost water from ageing pipes or pilferage. Water problem has been compounded mainly due to our inability to harvest rainwater.
You must have observed that houses in Kathmandu appear to be bleeding water during heavy downpours. Access pipes throw out rainwater in the streets to great inconvenience of pedestrians. They clog drainage and make puddles here and there. There is a real risk of being splashed with puddle water as you walk. The streets are flooded with rainwater, causing great inconvenience to cars and motorbikes, while Kathmandu residents are struggling to get water for daily consumption.
Rainwater is cost-free and healthy. House owners in Kathmandu can collect rainwater from roofs and pipe it into reserve tanks. There are multiple benefits of rainwater harvesting. Harvested water can be used for household chores after proper treatment. It can also be consumed since it is only slightly saline. If the source of harvesting is clean, it can be drunk directly. Physical and chemical properties of rainwater are considered superior to those of groundwater or surface waters which are exposed to pollution. Rainwater is also considered the purest form of water.
Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, Guatemala and China have already started harvesting rainwater. It should be easier in Nepal with its heavy rainfall. Rainy season lasts for around five months here—from early June to late October. The water collected in these five months can last throughout the year if used properly. Besides, it does not cost much. Individual households can start collecting rainwater on their rooftops. Similarly, even the water collected in different puddles can be pooled and stored for dry season. This water can be treated and supplied to places where it's needed the most.
But certain things need to be ensured to make this idea work. First, the government should have a plan for rainwater harvesting. It should be mandatory for every household to keep its premises clean including the rooftop for purpose of harvesting water. Then it should provide technicians who provide free services to households that want to harvest water since many might not know how to do it. Such technicians should also advise households on reservoirs and reserve tanks.
Another measure could be allotting some acres of land for harvesting water and supply this water to main drinking water reservoir. Besides, the government should make it compulsory for each household to construct a structure on rooftop to collect rainwater and pipe it to reserve tanks.
UN Secretary-General Ban KI-moon warned in 2014 that with agriculture, homes, factories and offices consuming water in ever greater quantities, nearly half the world population could face water scarcity by 2030. According to a 2015 UN report, global water demand will increase by 55 percent by 2050. If current usage trends don't change, says the report, the world will have only 60 percent of the water it needs in 2030.
Kathmandu may not be immune to this trend. Many underground sources are drying up while Melamchi still remains a distant dream.
As soon as winter begins, reconstruction work for about eight million houses destroyed by earthquakes will start in villages and towns. The government should avail designs and blueprint maps to earthquake victims requiring them to develop a harvesting surface. We are wasting millions of water every rainy season. Let's not waste any more. Pray, tap the rainwater.
The author is an hotelier with interest in peace and humanism
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