KATHMANDU, Oct 17: Recent heavy rains in Nepal in the last week of September caused unprecedented damage to lives and property across the country. Floods and landslides triggered by the downpour resulted in the loss of at least 236 lives and damages estimated at USD 127 million (Rs 17 billion), according to the government’s latest figures.
Among the critical infrastructure affected, more than 1,600 water supply projects were destroyed, accounting for over Rs 6 billion in losses. The devastation, which affected 58 districts, severely impacted drinking water pipelines in key areas such as Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap, and Sindhuli, among others. Over 50,000 households were directly affected, with the Kathmandu Valley seeing some of the worst damage.
According to the Ministry of Water Supply (MoWS), the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) sustained the largest single loss, amounting to Rs 1 billion. Intakes, pipelines, water tanks, sump wells, processing plants, and both galvanized iron (GI) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes were buried or washed away, cutting off access to clean drinking water and severely affecting public health and well-being.
Officials from the MoWS indicated that data collection on the full extent of the damage is still ongoing.
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The September disaster has highlighted an often-overlooked issue: water supply system losses are rarely accounted for in climate change-related discussions. Despite their critical role, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) systems have not been adequately prioritized in climate finance strategies. This gap in funding and focus has left vulnerable communities exposed to heightened risks.
“Major climate finance mechanisms, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF), have not made WASH a priority, and this needs to change,” said Prabhat Shrestha, under secretary at the MoWS. He emphasized the need for immediate assistance when disasters strike, noting that current GCF and other externally funded projects in Nepal are primarily focused on mitigation, climate resilience, forestry, watershed management, and other sectors.
Shrestha highlighted the need for a fast and easy approach to securing loss and damage funds, as communities on the ground struggle to meet their basic needs after disasters. "The process of securing assistance from the loss and damage fund should not be a lengthy, procedure-oriented one," he added.
Dr Santosh Nepal, project leader of the Inclusive and Climate Resilient WASH (RES-WASH) initiative at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), echoed these concerns.
"The WASH sector is highly sensitive to climate change and extreme weather events. The destruction of 1,600 water supply projects during the September floods has significantly impacted water quality, availability, and hygiene," he said.
Experts fear that the impact is even more severe in rural areas, where water supply dependency is high and alternative sources are scarce. Vulnerable and marginalized communities are particularly hard-hit, with limited means to recover.
“While climate finance has been directed toward sectors such as watershed management and emissions mitigation, we have seen little to no investment in climate-resilient WASH systems,” Dr Nepal added.
Nepal’s economy is heavily reliant on climate-sensitive sectors, including agriculture, tourism, and hydropower. The country’s mountain communities and ecosystems are among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
According to government estimates, climate-induced disasters are becoming more frequent and intense, with annual economic losses ranging from 0.08 percent to 2.08 percent of the country’s GDP.
