Lowering of groundwater table in Kathmandu

Possible actions for sustainable ground water use in the Kathmandu valley:

1. Control and regulate extraction: License all deep tube wells, meter abstraction, set limits and tariffs, and stop illegal boring.
2. Artificial recharge: Build recharge pits, ponds and recharge wells, and use roof-top rain water harvesting in every building.
3. Protect recharge zones: Keep the main recharge areas on the northern and outer edges of the valley (for example Budhanilkantha, Gokarna and Sundarijal) and other open land free from construction and paving.
4. Surface water supply: Bring in more surface water through the Melamchi Water Supply Project and other schemes to reduce dependence on wells.
5. Reduce losses: Repair leakage in the distribution system (non-revenue water is over 35 percent in Kathmandu) and prevent wastage.
6. Demand management: Water metering, tiered tariffs, water-saving fixtures, awareness campaigns, and reuse of waste water for gardening and toilet flushing.
7. Conjunctive use: Use surface and ground water together, extracting more ground water in the monsoon and less in the dry season.
8. Monitoring and law: Use observation wells to monitor water levels, and strictly enforce ground water licensing under the Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board Act (2063 BS) and local by-laws.
9. Restore traditional sources: Revive stone spouts, ponds and wells that recharge the aquifer.