Evaluation of Water Security in Kathmandu Valley before and after Water Transfer from another Basin

A severe water insecurity condition in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, is expected to improve significantly following the completion of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP). The study assessed household water security index (WSI) before and after the MWSP, revealing that current infrastructure supplies only 19% of dry-season demand and 31% during the wet season. Post-MWSP, the project aims to supply up to 510 million liters per day (MLD), potentially serving an additional 1.21 million people. However, existing distribution networks may lead to inequality in water distribution, necessitating strategies for expansion and redistribution. The research used spatial mapping with ArcMap to analyze water demand and supply data, highlighting the need for long-term measures to optimize water loss, harness additional hillside water, and manage water resources within and outside Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) service areas.

Thapa, B., Ishidaira, H., Pandey, V., Bhandari, T., & Shakya, N. (2018). Evaluation of Water Security in Kathmandu Valley before and after Water Transfer from another Basin. Water, 10(2), 224. https://doi.org/10.3390/w10020224