Water supply decreases in Kathmandu valley due to daily power cuts

Drinking water availability in Valley has nearly halved compared to wet season with daily power cuts considerably limiting extraction of groundwater by Nepal Water Supply Corporation. Nepal Water Supply Corporation was depending on its 50 deep tube wells as sources of half the volume of water supplied in Valley till 12 hour in a day power cuts. Groundwater extraction has gone down by 15 to 20 percent due to daily power cuts. Surface sources of drinking water are also fast depleting due to dry winter. When run at full capacity, the 50 deep tube wells can generate 50 million liters daily. The surface sources, which can contribute 100 million liters daily in wet season, are currently supplying only 50 million liters daily. The Valley usually faces acute water scarcity in April, May and June every year. However, the crisis this time has come two months earlier thanks to power cuts. Low pressure in water pipelines makes supply difficult, thus rendering water tankers indispensable. In situations like this, Nepal Water Supply Corporation's 15 water tankers, combined, used to make as many as 100 trips a day in the past. So we can not hope for batter water supply in near future.