WEPA NewsThe 40th issue
3 July, 2023
The Water Environment Partnership in Asia (WEPA) is an initiative proposed by the Japanese Ministry of theEnvironment. It aims to strengthen water environmental governance and capacity building in Asia. For further
information, please visit the WEPA website (https://wepa-db.net/).

TopicsWEPA Topics
1.

19th WEPA Annual Meeting and International Workshop

2.

WEPA website renewal

3.

Update of the WEPA Action Program in Lao PDR

4.

Water environment in Nepal

5.

10th World Water Forum

6.

Greetings from new member in the WEPA Secretariat

Call for your contribution to WEPA News!

1. 19th WEPA Annual Meeting and International Workshop
The WEPA Secretariat and the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, will organize the 19th WEPA
Annual Meeting and International Workshop on 30 January and 1 February 2024 in Hayama,Kanagawa, Japan. These events will be held as in-person meetings, but on-line participations will
be arranged at the same time.
The Annual Meeting aims to share the progress and future plans of overall WEPA activities withWEPA partner countries, in addition to providing updates on water environmental governance inthe partner countries. The International Workshop will be organized to share practical information
on addressing emerging issues. Since this is the 20th year of WEPA, we would like to look backat the past two decades of WEPA and note any changes in the water environmental governancein member countries, in addition to discussing the importance of the PDCA cycle.
The agenda and other details of the meeting and workshop will be announced in due course.

2. Renewal of the WEPA website
Our website was renewed on 8 March, 2023. This renewal makes it much easier to navigate ourwebsite even with mobile devices, and we are aiming to provide the latest information from ourpartners to facilitate knowledge exchange. You can still see the old database in the archives, but
we will transfer some useful and relevant content to the new database. We keep working on thewebsite to provide valuable information on water environmental governance in WEPA member
countries. Please visit our website at https://wepa-db.net/.

3. WEPA Action Program in Lao PDR

The WEPA action program in Lao PDR started in FY2022 to support the Department of NaturalResources and Environment Inspection (DNREI) and the Ministry of National Resources andEnvironment (MONRE) to conserve valuable water resources. During the first year, analysis wascarried out targeting the influent and effluent water quality of septic tanks and decentralized
waste water treatment facilities, and an outline was developed for the training materials that will
be used for operation and maintenance (O&M) of septic tanks and decentralized wastewater
systems. This year, the action program plans to analyze the water quality at the same locationsin the wet season, complete the publication of training materials, and organize a training
workshop for government officials to strengthen the law enforcement capacity. The training
materials will be handed over to the Lao government who will continue to disseminate theappropriate O&M of septic tanks and decentralized wastewater systems.

4. Water Environment in Nepal
Nepal is blessed with natural beauty, particularly in its water environment which has remarkablefeatures that make it truly exceptional.
Nepal boasts around 6000 rivers and rivelutes accompanied by numerous waterfalls thatenhance the country's scenic charm. These rivers, including the Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali,
flow through deep gorges, cutting through mountains and creating breathtaking landscapes.
Additionally, the country is the location of some stunning waterfalls like Hyatung, Devi's Fall, andPanchpokhari Fall (Figure 1).
Arun River :A tributary of Koshi River

Koshi River with Barragein Plains
Devi’s Fall

Hyatung Fall
Nepal is home to several lakes, both natural and man-made. Rara Lake, Phewa Lake, andGosaikunda are pristine lakes nestled amidst lush greenery, mountains, and serene
surroundings. Nepal is renowned for its glacial lakes too, formed by the melting glaciers in theHimalayas. Gokyo Lakes in the Everest region and Tilicho Lake in the Annapurna region
exemplify these ethereal glacial lakes (Figure 2).

Phewa Lake (Pokhara)

Tilicho Glacial Lake
(Highest in the world)

Natural hot springs dot the landscape of Nepal, offering a soothing and therapeutic experience.
Hot springs (locally “Tatopani”) in the Langtang region and Ridi in the Palpa district are amongsome popular destinations for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Nepal is home to diverse wetlands and marshes that provide vital habitats for a variety of plant andanimal species. Wetlands like Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Ghodaghodi Lake, and Jagdishpur
Reservoir not only offer visual appeal but also support rich biodiversity and attract migratory birds.

Nepal's rivers serve multiple purposes and offer habitats for aquatic organisms. Unfortunately,pollution from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, habitat degradation, climate change, andunsustainable resource use and improper waste management has greatly affected water quality,endangering both aquatic life and human health.
The Nepalese government has implemented measures to address these challenges, including
stricter regulations on industrial pollution, promoting wastewater treatment, and raising awarenessof responsible waste disposal. River clean-up efforts and the establishment of protected areas are
crucial for conserving and restoring river biodiversity. Recognizing the threat of climate change,Nepal actively participates in international efforts. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation
patterns, and glacier melt impact water availability and quality. Sustainable and integrated water
resource management and conservation are prioritized to mitigate these effects.
In conclusion, Nepal's water environment reflects the country's natural beauty, offering diverse
landscapes. Protecting this environment is crucial, and Nepal is taking initiatives andcollaborating to address pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change challenges.
Surya Dev Gupta (SDE WECS, Singhdarbar, Kathmandu, Nepal, 3 June, 2023)

5. 10th World Water ForumThe 10th World Water Forum (WWF10) will take place in Bali,Indonesia, 18-22 May 2024, under the main theme of Water for
Shared Prosperity. The WEPA Secretariat is planning tocontribute to WWF10 by participating in sessions and inputting
recent outcomes of WEPA activities. We provide details in thenext WEPA News in November, 2023.
More information at https://worldwaterforum.org/

6. Greetings from new member in the WEPA Secretariat
We are pleased to introduce a new member who has joined the WEPA Secretariat recently:
Sui Kanazawa: I studied civil engineering and environmental engineering at
KOSEN (National College of Technology in Japan) with international students
from Asian countries. Through this experience, it has been my dream to contributeto the preservation of wastewater environment in Asia. For that, I dedicatedmyself to studying about wastewater treatment at graduate school. Uponcompleting my PhD, I started working as an industrial engineer for a plantengineering company to gain practical knowledge and experience. I worked on
the design of facilities for wastewater treatment for the last four years. It is mypleasure to join the WEPA secretariat at IGES. I am looking forward to work with you all!

Call for your contribution to WEPA News! (Please send us any updatedinformation)
We are seeking a cooperative agenda with partners. To ensure smooth progress, we welcome
information on any new developments on water environmental governance in your country. If you
have any related information, please send it to the WEPA Secretariat by email <WEPA_secretariat@iges.or.jp >.

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c/o Adaptation and Water Area, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
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