Abstract

Abstract The main objective of this paper is to assess the water crisis in Nepal by conducting a series of case studies in rural watersheds in the mid-hills. This was achieved through the applied qualitative method, especially combinations of desk study/structured searches, consultation, and field observation. The ground survey revealed that most of the rural communities in the mid-hills have an unreliable water supply. According to the local stakeholders, 20–25% of water resources have dried up as compared to 20 years ago. Drying up of water resources disproportionately affects women and girls in rural areas as women are responsible for household chores, including fetching drinking water. The findings also revealed that low-income households bear a disproportionate coping burden as compared to elite groups, as they often engage in coping strategies such as collecting water from distant water sources, which is labor- and time-intensive, and also yields smaller quantities of water. Assuming that unreliable water supplies will continue to exist in rural areas of the mid-hills for the foreseeable future, there is a critical need to consider which, if any, coping strategies will be most effective in ensuring that poor households will have access to safe and sufficient water supply.

Highlights

  • Water is the single most important natural resource that is widely distributed in the natural environment (Plessis, 2017; Singh et al, 2019)

  • The Paani Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to reduce threats to freshwater biodiversity and increase the ability of targeted human and ecological communities in the Karnali, Mahakali and Rapti River basins to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change through improved water management

  • This study presents a number of case studies documented from the mid-hills areas of Nepal to identify gaps and areas for improved community access to water resources and sanitation that inform local governments and local partners, and contribute to achieving the sustainable development goal

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Summary

Introduction

Water is the single most important natural resource that is widely distributed in the natural environment (Plessis, 2017; Singh et al, 2019). A. Gurung et al / Water Policy 21 (2019) 826–847 development and well-being (Guppy & Anderson, 2017; Plessis, 2017). Realizing the importance of water for human health and economic activity, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 targets access to water and sanitation for all people in the 15 years (WHO, 2017). For developing countries it is more challenging to achieve this goal given their weak financial capabilities, poor infrastructures, and high population growth (Guppy & Anderson, 2017). More than 40% of the total global population does not have access to sufficient clean water and the majority of these populations live in developing countries (UN, 2018; WHO, 2018). The condition of water scarcity is exacerbated by climate change that could cost some regions up to 6% of their gross domestic product (WBG, 2016)

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