Nepal is facing a water crisis. As a landlocked nation with a population of over 27 million, 42% of whom live below the poverty line, water pollution and water scarcity are significant challenges. Access to safe and adequate drinking water is a basic human necessity, but a large proportion of the Nepalese population is deprived of it. Water pollution in Nepal is caused by natural and anthropogenic factors, with surface water contaminated by industrial and domestic waste, untreated sewage, and inadequate sanitation infrastructure. The capital, Kathmandu, produces 150 tons of waste daily, with almost half ending up in rivers, and 80% generated by households. The lack of awareness about proper sanitation and the limited number of wastewater treatment facilities further exacerbates the problem. The consequences are dire, with children under five being the most vulnerable, as waterborne diseases claim the lives of 44,000 children annually. Therefore, addressing water pollution in Nepal is crucial to ensuring the health and well-being of its citizens, especially the most vulnerable among them.
Read:
- Water Pollution In Nepal: Saving Lives, Protecting Nature. In: Shun Waste (April 23, 2025)
- Nepal: Worsening Water Crisis. Column by Madhukar Upadhya in: The Katmandu Post (April 21. 2025)
- How Nepal can make its water and sanitation systems inclusive and climate-resilient. IWMI – International Water Management Institute (April 24, 2025)
- WEPA – Water Environment Partnership in Asia. Database
