WATER ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Water environment issue could be differentiated in two broad types. First is caused by diffuse sources such River sedimentation, soil erosion, fertilizers, pesticides from agricultural fields, and from improper wastewater management. Diffuse source pollution is common in rural areas, where majority of people are dependent on agricultural activities and lack access to basic sanitation facilities. Similarly, there is excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural fields near to agro-market areas such as Kathmandu, Chitwan. Second types of problem originate from both point- and diffuse sources that are specific to urban areas like Kathmandu and Pokhara. The sources include direct discharges of domestic and industrial wastewater and illegal dumping of solid wastes into natural water bodies (rivers, lakes, ponds). Primarily unplanned urban development and deficiency of waste management facilities are major barriers for alleviating water pollution problems. As a result, urban rivers like the Bagmati in Kathmandu valley is highly polluted where as BOD level is extremely high. Similarly, discharges of human wastes have caused eutrophication and emergence of macrophysics in certain portions of Phewa Lake in Pokhara.

Link to the presentation at WEPA Dialogue in Nepal (Dec. 2010), "Eco-Approach to Manage Wastewater"

References:

-Statistical Year Book of Nepal
-Environmental Statistics of Nepal 2008, Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal
-Mool, P.K., S. R. Bajracharya, and S.P. Joshi. Inventory of Glaciers, Glacial Lakes and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods, Monitoring and Early Warning Systems in the HKH Region (Nepal). International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)/UNEP/RRC-AP, 2001.
- National Lakes Conservation Development Committee (NLCDC) www.nepallake.gov.np (accessed 15 Feb. 2011)
-Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS). 2005. National Water Plan-Nepa