Updates of Water Environment
Governance in Nepal
Madhav Dev Acharya

Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS)Singhadurbar, Kathmandu, Nepal

The 15th WEPA Annual Meeting
7 February 2020
BangkokNepal in General Bordered by China in the North and India in the East, West andSouth Mountainous Country: Himal/Mountain = 43%, Hills = 30% andTerai Plain = 27%

Federal Structure of Democratic Republic of Nepal
Seven Provinces
Province No. 1, Province No. 2, Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province ,Province No. 5, Karnali Province and Sudurpashchim Province
Districts (77 District Coordination Committees )Local Units
6 Metropolitan cities, 11 Submetropolitan cities, 276 Municipalities
460 Rural municipalites and 6743 Wards

Water Qualities of Some of the Water Bodies in Nepal
Bagmati River at various location (Upper-inlet to Lower-outlet) in Kathmandu Valley

Taudaha Lake at various locations laying in southern part of the in Kathmandu Valley

Water Qualities of Some of the Water Bodies in Nepal
Seti River at various locations (Upper-inlet to Lower-outlet) in Pokhara (West Nepal)

Phewa Lake at various locations laying in city area of Pokhara (West Nepal)

Water Qualities of Some of the Water Bodies in Nepal
Narayani River at various locations around Narayanghat Area (Chitawan Nepal)

Sirsiya River at various locations around Birgunj Area (Parsa Nepal)

Water Qualities of Some of the Water Bodies in Nepal
Tinau River at various locations around Butwal Area (Rupandehi Nepal)

Comparison of Water Qualities of Sundarijal Water Supply Reservoir , Kathmandu measured in two different periods
Parameters

Temperature
(0C)

TDS
EC
(mgL-1) (μs/cm)

NDWQS

-

1000

1500

2008
2018

11
8.2

40
22.4

15.48
33.2

Parameters

TC
FC
Phosphorus
Iron
Manganese Zinc
Lead
Chromium(colonies/ (colonies/(mgL-1)(mgL-1) (mgL-1)(mgL-1) (mgL-1) (mgL-1)
100ml)
100ml)

Copper (mgL-1)

NDWQS

-

Nil

Nil

0.3

0.2

3

0.01

0.05

1

2008
2018

0
0.04

112
200

58
60

0.04
0.05

< .01
<.01

< .01
0.32

< .01
<.01

< .01
<.05

< .01
<.01

PH
6.58.5
5.9
7.27

Alkalinity(mgL-1)

Hardness

BOD
DO
COD
Nitrogen(mgL-1) (mgL-1) (mgL-1) (mgL-1)

-

500

-

-

-

-

50
24.5

7
20

2

8.4
7.9

11
5.5

0
7

Water Qualities of Some of the Water Bodies in Nepal
Physico-chemical Status of Groundwater of Kathmandu Valley.
GroundTemperature
Conductivity Turbidity Hardness Chloride Alkalinity Iron
pH
Water
(0 C)
(NTU)
(mg/l)(mg/l)(mg/l)(mg/l)(µS/cm)SourceShallow
18.6
7.1
874.5
45.9
230.7
81.8
366.0
1.47
Well
Tube Well
17.9
7.0
576.8
54.8
218.8
61.1
258.0
1.90
Deep Tube
20.3
7.0
704.2
33.2
251.2
59.0
302.7
1.80
Well
WHO
6.5 –
NA
500
5
500
250
NA
0.3
Guidelines
8.5

Arsenic(mg/l)

Fluoride(mg/l)

0.004

0.43

0.003

0.27

0.009

0.74

0.01

1.5

Generalized Physico-chemical Status of Spring and Groundwater supply in Rural Area of Nepal
Sourcetype

Cl
N03 NH3
TH
CaH MgH Iron
Mn
FC
Turb ECTDS Temp TA
0(NTU) (μS/c (mg/L) ( C) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (CFU/
100ml)
m)
7.85 0.87 205 82
20.4 99
12
8
1.0
83
64
19
0.15
0.05
110
pH

Gravitywater
Ground 7.3
water

1.4

286

146

25.6 84

9

12

0.9

120

104

16

0.83

0.20

63

Water Qualities of Some of the Water Bodies in Nepal
Bagmati River at various location (Upper-inlet to Lower-outlet) in Kathmandu Valley
Sampling Date: 29.06.2076 (16 October, 2019) and 26.06.2076 (13 October, 2019)
Total
Fe Mn Cd Cr
Cu
Sampling site Turbidity TSS TDS DO BOD COD Fecal(NTU)
mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l coliform
phosphate mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l
CFU/100ml mg/l
Sundarijal
Gokarna
JorpatiGuheswori
Aryaghat
Minbhuban
Manohara
and Bagmati
confluence
Thapathali
Bagmati and
Bishnumati
confluence
Sundarighat
Chovar20 12 27
37 25 68
43 30 82
35 15 62
30 23 78
400 386 255
456 441 208

7.8
2 10
6.8
6 54
5.4 19 64
6 10 41
5.7
6 51
0 150 381
0 78 153140
82x10344x10437x10342x10387x10551x1050.09 0.03
0.55 0.3
0.7 0.36
0.7 0.4
0.57 0.36
0.31 2.18
2.18 2.07

0.01
0.04
0.04
0.03
0.04
0.41
0.27

ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND

ND ND
ND ND
ND ND
ND ND
ND ND
ND 0.05
ND 0.03220 243 230
200 208 198

00

81 17299 18466x10692x106

1.3 2.22 0.29
1.19 1.86 0.25

ND
ND

ND 0.03
ND 0.02152 191 252
244 234 202

0 130 278
0 122 300

11x10654x105

3.5 1.47 0.24
2.44 1.02 0.07

ND
ND

ND 0.07
ND 0.01

Water Qualities of Some of the Water Bodies in Nepal
Monthly Chemical and Bacteriological Analysis of Drinking Water Supply by KUKL in Kathmandu for December 2019

Status of Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Management
Availability and Their Uses of Water in General:
S.No.

SourcesAvailableamount1

Annual Renewable Surface Water (billion m3)

225

2

Annual Renewable Ground Water (billion m3)

123

Per Capita Renewable Surface and Ground
Water (000 m3 / year)

94

Total Annual Withdrawal (billion m3 / year)

24

5

Per Capita Annual Withdrawal (000 m3 / year)

1

6

Sectorial withdrawal as % Total withdrawal
Domestic
Industrial
Agricultural

3.43
0.41
96.16

Status of Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Management
Waste Water Production and Treatment in major urban areas of Nepal As of 2011:
S.No.

Urban Centers

Waste Water Production (MLD)
Domestic

Industrial

Total

Collected for Treatment
(MLD)

1

Kathmandu

64.4974.515

69.01234.5062

Lalitpur (Patan)

15.6471.095

16.742

8.371

3

Bhaktapur

5.971

.418

6.389

3.195

4

Kathmandu (Kirtipur)

3.92

.274

4.194

2.097

5

Bhaktapur (Madhyapur
Thimi)

3.069

.215

4

Kaski (Pokhara)

NA

NA

3.284
13.42

5

Morang (Biratnagar)

NA

NA

12.15

NA

6

Parsa (Birgunj)

NA

NA

8.68

NA

7

Chitawan (Bharatpur)

NA

NA

6.84

NA

8

Dhanusa (Janakpur)

NA

NA

5.41

NA

9

Kailali (Dhangadhi)

NA

NA

5.37

NA

10

Rupandehi (Butwal)

NA

NA

6.01

NA

93.1046.517

157.50149.811

Total

1.642
NA

Status of Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Management
Generalized Waste Water Management in Nepal As of 2017:

Some of the tested parameters among different sources of waste water:
Parameters

Source Type
Domestic

Industrial

Hospital

pH

7.04

6.67

7.1

TSS (mg/L)

356

429

195

DO (mg/L)

1-

4

BOD (mg/L)

420

411

166

COD(mg/L)

640

766

329

Ammonia (mg/L)

118

17

48

Nitrate (mg/L)

6

-

4

TP (mg/L)

16

2

-

O&G (mg/L)

18

37

2

Status of Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Management
Existing Wastewater Treatment Plants in Kathmandu Valley and Other Urban Areas of Nepal

Policy and Legislative Framework for Water Environmental Governance
Water and Environment Related Provisions in The Constitution of Nepal:
SN

Articles & Schedules

1 Article 30 (1)2 Article (30 (2)3 Article 35 (4)4 Article 56 (2)5 Schedule 5: List of Federal Power
5.1 No. 11
5,2 No. 14
5,3 No. 35

Provisions

Every citizen shall have the right to live in a clean and healthy environment.
Victim of environmental pollution or degradation shall be entitled the right tocompensation from the polluter as provided in the law.
Every citizen shall have the right to access to basic clean drinking waterandsanitation services.
The exercise of Nepal’s State power shall be used by Federation, States and Local
units as mentioned in the Constitution.
Policies relating to conservation and multiple uses of water resources
Central level large electricity, irrigation and other projects
Any matter not enumerated in the Lists of Federal Power, State Power and Local
Level Power or in the Concurrent List and any matter not specified in thisConstitution and in the Federal laws

6 Schedule 6: List of State Power
6.1 No. 7
State level electricity, irrigation and water supply service, Navigation
6.2 No. 19
Use of forests and waters and management of environment within the State
7 Schedule 7: List of Concurrent Powers ofFederation and State
7.1 No. 18
Tourism, water supply and sanitation
8 Schedule 8: List of Local Level Power
8.1 No. 7
Local level development plans and projects
8.2 No. 9
Basic health and sanitation
8.3 No. 19
Water supply, small hydropower projects, alternative energy
9 Schedule 9: List of Concurrent Powers ofFederation, State and Local Level
9.1 No. 5
Services such as electricity, water supply, irrigation
9.2 No. 14
Royalty from natural resources

Policy and Legislative Framework for Water Environmental Governance
Water and Environment Related Legislations, Policy and Strategies and Guidelines

Policy and Legal Framework for Water Environmental Governance
Policy and Legislative Frameworks:
Name
Water Resources Act

CategoryYear

PurposeAct

1992

The umbrella Act governing water resource management anddeclares the order of priority of water use .

Water Resources Rules

Rule

1993

The umbrella Rules governing water resource management,
Sets out the procedure to register a Water User Associationand to obtain a license.

Drinking Water Service
Charge Rules

Rule

1994

Details the procedures for Tap connection and hole change
and ownership of Taps and its transfer.

National Solid Waste
Management Policy

Policy1996

Waste management by Local Bodies; mobilize wastes as
resources and reduce wastes at sources.

Environment Protection
Act

Act

Environment Protection
Rules

Rule

Drinking Water Rules

Water Resources Strategy

Rules

Strategy

1997

The umbrella Act governing over all environmental protectionof the country.

1997

The umbrella Rule governing over all environmental
protection of the country and further elaborates the Act.

1998

Regulates the use of drinking water; provides for theformation of Drinking Water User Associations and sets out
the procedure for registration.

2002

Sets out sectoral and cross cutting short, medium and longterm strategies to optimize the sustainable benefits from theresource.

Policy and Legal Framework for Water Environmental Governance
Policy and Legislative Frameworks:

Name

CategoryYear

PurposeDrinking Water Quality
Standards

Standards

2005

Sets standards for water quality; Service Providers
responsible for monitoring; Local level offices.

Environment Protection
Act

Act

2019

The umbrella Act governing over all environmental
protection of the country.

Water Supply andSanitation Bill Act

Act

Under
Parliament

The umbrella Act governing over all environmental
protection of the country.

Environment Protection
Rules

Rule

Under
drafting

The umbrella Rule governing over all environmental
protection of the country and further elaborates the Act.

PolicyUnder
drafting

The draft policy is aimed to cover all aspects of water
resources development and management based on the
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principle
and newly restructured three tires of government.

Act

Under
drafting

The draft Act will be the new water resources act for the
execution of new policy which covers all aspects of water
resources development and management.

Integrated National
Water Resources Policy(Draft)Integrated National
Water Resources Act(Draft)Institutional Framework for Water Environmental Governance
Key Institutions and their Mandates on Water Environment GovernanceName of the Institution

Level

Mandated Working Area

Ministry of Energy, Water
Resources and Irrigation

CentralOver all Energy, Hydropower, Irrigation and Water Resources development of
the country.

Ministry of Water Supply

Central

Water supply, sanitation and hygeine development andmanagement of the country.

Ministry of Urban
Development

CentralOver all urban planning, development and Management for thedevelopment of municipalities in the country.

Ministry of Forest andEnvironment

CentralForest resources and environmental development andmanagement and enforcement environmental mandates.

Central

Policy and planning regarding energy and water resources
development and management covering all sectors. Advisory roleon critical issues related to large water resources projects.

CentralResponsible for the implementation and the compliance ofEnvironmental Protection Act , and Rule (EPR), and pollution
control standard as promulgated by the Government of Nepal.

Provincial

Provincial level policy planning formulation and development of allsorts of physical infrastructures and their environmental
management.

Water and Energy
Commission Secretariat
Department ofEnvironment
Ministry of PhysicalInfrastructure
Development
Department of Water
Supply and Sewerage

CentralThe Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management(DWSSM) is responsible for planning, implementing, operating andInstitutional Framework for Water Environmental GovernanceName of theInstitution

Key Institutions and their Mandates on Water Environment

Ministry of Industry,
Tourism, Forest andEnvironment
Department of Water
Resources andIrrigation

Department ofHydrology andMeteorology (DHM)
Nepal Water Supply
Corporation (NWSC)
Kathmandu Upatyaka
Khanepani Limited(KUKL)

Level

Mandated Working Area

Provincial

Provincial level policy planning formulation and development of
all sorts of forest, environment, conservation of biodiversity,
adaptation to climate change and science and technology related.

CentralDepartment of Water Resources and Irrigation is responsible forplanning, developing, implementing and monitoring of all sorts ofcentral level surface and groundwater irrigation systems byutilizing the available surface and ground water resources.

Central

DHM is responsible to collect , process , publish and disseminatehydrological and meteorological data and monitors riverhydrology, water quality, sediment, limnology, snow hydrology,
glaciology, weather, climate, agro-meteorology, air quality andsolar energy in the country.

Autonomous
Government

NWSC is a public utility organization; an autonomous government
body and provides drinking water supply services to the 20 cities
within the country.

Kathmandu
ValleyKUKL is responsible for the operation and management of water
and wastewater services in the Valley. The company will also takeover the responsibility for infrastructure built by the Melamchi
Water Supply Project.
Local level planning and development in close coordination with

Water Quality Monitoring and Enforcement Framework
Water Quality Monitoring Parameters and Monitoring Institutions

S. No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

Category
PhysicalParameters
Turbidity
pH
Color
Taste and Odor
EC
TDS
Chemical Residual Chlorine
Ammonia
Chloride
NitrateTotal Hardness
Calcium
Iron
Manganese
Sulphate
Arsenic
Cadmium
CopperFluoride
CyanideLead
Chromium
Zinc
Mercury
Aluminum
Microbio
E. colilogical
Total coliform

Monitoring Frequency
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Monthly
Quarterly
Daily
MonthlyMonthlyMonthlyMonthlyMonthly
YearlyYearlyYearlyYearlyYearlyYearlyYearlyYearlyYearlyYearlyYearlyYearlyYearlyMonthlyMonthly

Monitoring Institutions
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers
Water Supply Providers

Surveillance Agency

Ministry of
Population and
Health and its line
agencies are
responsible forsurveillance ofdrinking water
qualityWater Quality Monitoring and Enforcement Framework
Water Quality Hoarding Board for General Public by DHM

Water Quality Monitoring and Enforcement Framework
Framework of Responsible Institutions for Water Quality SurveillanceWater Quality Monitoring and Enforcement Framework
Water Quality Monitoring Parameters and Monitoring Institutions

 Institutional Monitoring: Besides the monitoring by
the Water Supply Provider, the responsibility ofGovernment agencies lies with the concerned
ministries and line agencies under the ministries. The
monitoring and surveillance responsibility however lies
with the Ministry of Population and Health andconcerned offices under the ministry Execution of Monitoring and Surveillance Report: The
report with comments and suggestions provided by the
Ministry of Population and Health and its line agencies
should be followed up/corrected by the concerned
ministries and line agencies depending upon the Water
Supply Provider”.

Water Quality Monitoring and Enforcement Framework
Enforcement of Law and Penalty Decision for some of the Industry/Company
S. No. Name of theindustry/company
1
Sukraraj Tropical& Infectious
Disease Hospital
2
Nepal Eye
Hospital,
Tripureshwor
3
Paropakarmaternity &women's
hospital
4
NorvicInternational
Hospital
5
Kathmandu
Medical College

Details of the Penalties

Decision Remarks
Date

Penalty of NRs. 40000.00 has been
Septmade by the ministerial decision for not 2019
meeting the environmental standards.
Penalty of NRs. 40000.00 has been
Septmade by the ministerial decision for not 2019
meeting the environmental standards.
Penalty of NRs. 40000.00 has been
Septmade by the ministerial decision for not 2019
meeting the environmental standards.

By Ministry ofForest andEnvironment
By Ministry ofForest andEnvironment
By Ministry ofForest andEnvironment

Penalty of NRs. 90000.00 has been
Septmade by the ministerial decision for not 2019
meeting the environmental standards.
Penalty of NRs. 90000.00 has been
Septmade by the ministerial decision for not 2019
meeting the environmental standards.

By Ministry ofForest andEnvironment
By Ministry ofForest andEnvironmentFuture plans/targets, issues and challenges of water environment governanceTargets and Planned Activities on Water and EnvironmentRehabilitation and expansion of sewerage network including property connections

Rehabilitation and construction of interceptors along the streams



Rehabilitation and construction of five wastewater treatment plants of 90.5 MLD capacity

Energy generation of approximately 910 KW through sludge digestion and gasification

Kathmandu
Metropolitan

Lalitpur Metropolitan

Bhaktapur
Municipality

Kirtipur Municipality• The cleaning ofexisting sewers• New sanitary sewer
and storm waterdrain•New laying replacing
brick sewer•The cleaning ofexisting sewers• Rehabilitation ofexisting combined
sewer• The separation bylaying new sanitary
sewer• The cleaning ofexisting sewers• Rehabilitation ofexisting combined
sewer• New storm waterdrain in Bhaktapur
Industrial area

• Cleaning of existing
sewers• Rehabilitation ofexisting combined
sewer• The separation bylaying new storm
water drainFuture plans/targets, issues and challenges of water environment governanceWastewater Treatment Plan in Kathmandu Valley in 2020-2030

Future plans/targets, issues and challenges of water environment governance
Global Targets and National Indicators for Goals 6 of SDG

Future plans/targets, issues and challenges of water environment governance
Global Targets and National Indicators for Goals 6 of SDG

References:
Some of the materials used in this presentation has been referenced from their internet
websites and hence sincerely acknowledged.
Various other resources.

Thank You