This dry season, the consumers of Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) are sure to get only 23 litres of water per day per person given rising power cuts and almost no increment in water sources in the past year. For the urban areas, an individual’s water need per day is 100 litres, something acknowledged as necessary and set as a target by the country’s Urban Water and Sanitation Policy.

This decrease in water supply will surely add to the existing water woes. There is no guarantee that all the areas will get similar water supply. Consumers are experiencing inequitable distribution of drinking water in different locations. This dry season, the KUKL must scientifically divide the supply areas and make necessary arrangements for equitable distribution of water in all areas. Similarly, KUKL should effectively carry out its leakage control without much ado as it helps to increase water supply. In addition, the KUKL should implement immediate plans of water production augmentation rather than waiting for the Melamchi Water Supply Project to complete.
 
By: Prajwol Shrestha, Communication Associate, NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation

Source: The Rising Nepal, January 18, 2012