Water quality improvement in Nepal: scaling up of a water safety plan (WSP)

In Nepal, 50 percent people have access to piped water supply system including 30 percent spring sources, 10 percent stream sources and 10 percent deep tube well. 30 percent of the people are using shallow hand pump systems and remaining 20 percent are still having traditional systems as primary source for domestic water. Spring sources are likely to be safe, however, equally prone to contamination due to poor sanitary condition around the source. Government has approved National Drinking Water Quality Standard and Directives which require all service providers to develop water quality improvement plan. Water Safety Plan(WSP) has been practiced in rural and urban towns since 2007 for continuous safety of water supply. Practical knowledge has been gained and guiding document has been prepared for service providers. Government of Nepal is planning to expand WSP in all 75 districts. This paper highlights WSP experiences and approach for scaling up.