Water: A Scarce Resource in Rural Watersheds of Nepal's Middle Mountains

Abstract

Worldwide, water availability will be a key issue in the 21st century. Per capita water availability is projected to fall from 6600 to 4800 m 3 between 2000 and 2025 because of uneven distribution of water resources. However, most of the world's population will have below 1700 m 3 per capita (Cosgrove and Rijsberman 2000). Mountains, in particular, are of great importance because more than half of humanity relies on freshwater that originates from mountains (Liniger et al 1998; Viviroli 2001). The rising demand for water from growing populations, climate change affecting water supplies , and increased uncertainty in relation to natural hazards (eg, increased occurrence of landslides, glacial lake outburst floods) are some of the reasons for future concern (Kundzewicz et al 2001). In the context of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region with its pronounced monsoonal climate, the following dual concern can be demonstrated by the current status of water-related issues:

Application of Water Poverty Index (WPI) in Nepalese Context: A Case Study of Kali Gandaki River Basin (KGRB)

“…Precipitation varies sharply from upstream, the rain shadow area receiving an average annual rainfall of 162.5 mm (1977 to 2007 average at Ghami station) to 2667.04 mm (1977 to 2007 average at Beluwa station) at downstream as per analysis of daily precipitation data from Department of Hydrology and Meteorology of Nepal (DHM 2010). Around 85% of the annual rain falls during monsoon season (June to September) triggering various problems due to too much water while the remaining 8 months have the enduring water shortage for domestic and agricultural use (Merz et al 2003). Despite the seasonal variability, most of the basin population relies on water resources for subsistence.…”

Evaluating Satellite Products for Precipitation Estimation in Mountain Regions: A Case Study for Nepal

“…Nepal's low and middle foothills receive large amounts of rain from about July to September as part of the South Asian monsoon (summer rainy season), but populations there may experience water shortages during the rest of the year [5,6]. While the Himalayan peaks and the Tibetan plateau to the north are in a relatively dry "rain shadow" [7], winter snow at high elevations nevertheless contributes to spring and summer streamflow [8].…”

The Himalayas: from mountain building to landform evolution in a changing world

“…This means that during the dry season, increase in evapotranspiration rates would result in a reduction of seasonal soil moisture and ground water storage, hence of spring yield, with reduced runoff. Collectively it will result in a higher pressure on water resource, all the more important that the irrigated agriculture, the economic and demographic growth together with higher living standard in urbanized zones cause a higher water demand (Merz et al, 2003). In addition, winter water deficit may directly affect both water quality and hydropower production, particularly in urbanized areas.…”