Issues and Problems of Community Water Supply Schemes with Special Reference to Nepal

Abstract

Drinking water is a basic need for survival and good health of human beings as well as for any form of life on earth. In the absence of potable water, there is a high risk of transmission of serious diseases among people, like diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, and typhoid. Despite significant progress on community water schemes, worldwide still 2.2 billion people are out of access to safely managed water services. This study was conducted during the period from February to July 2020. Published literature such as paper, thesis, manuals, database, reports, and standards were collected from different sources and went on thoroughly. The conclusions are drawn based on studied materials. The study found that about 829 thousand people are estimated to die each year from diarrhea because of unsafe contaminated drinking water, sanitation, and hand hygiene. In South Asia, over 134 million people still do not have access to clean drinking water. Various studies have shown that progress on basic water supply in Nepal has reached up to 89% of the population by the end of 2019. Community drinking water schemes in Nepal are facing various types of problems, such as technical problems related to, gender equity and social inclusion (GESI), cost recovery and affordability, operation and maintenance, institutional, and legal framework. Because those problems on water schemes are not timely and appropriately addressed, there is always a high impact on un-functionality, poor service, and unsustainability. The study would like to suggest that the operation and maintenance funds should be managed after the implementation of the project. The capacity building training for the water users committee should be conducted before the handover of the schemes.