Hydro-microbiological Approach for Water Security in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Provide a Reliable Supply of Safe, Secure Water to the Area Surrounding Kathmandu

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  KAZAMA Futaba
  Interdisciplinary Research Centre for River Basin Environment, Graduate Faculty of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi
- Prof.
  Narendra Man Shakya
  Institute of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Tribhuvan University

ODA Recipient Country

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

Research Institutions in Japan

University of Yamanashi

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Tribhuvan University (TU), etc.

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2013

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Ensuring water security through an optimal treatment system based on water security diagnosis
This project is creating water security maps of the area surrounding Kathmandu, which has limited energy and water resources, evaluating water by combining three factors?water quantity, quality, and microorganisms. Based on this information, researchers determine the type of water treatment equipment to use, and on what scale to deploy it. With the aim of constructing a small-scale, energy-saving, and highly efficient water treatment system suited to the local conditions of Kathmandu, the project also aims to improve on the speed and functionality of traditional water treatment technologies, which use biofilm, constructed wetlands, and soil/sand filtration.

Turning the Kathmandu model into a global water business!
Moving forward with this research will make it possible to provide a stable supply of safe, secure water to Kathmandu at low cost. Furthermore, if the 'Kathmandu model' established by this research spreads within Nepal and throughout Asian nations with similar regional conditions, it can be developed as a new brand into a global water business.

Photo gallery

Monitoring local well water.

People gathering at a communal water fountain. This is an important place for residents, because even when water is available, the fountains only supplies water for a few hours each day. During the dry season, it is commonplace for lines to form every day.

Kathmandu’s population is growing, and rows of homes now line urban districts, with almost no greenery to be found.