---
title: "Lowering of groundwater table in Kathmandu"
subject: "Water Supply Engineering"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_5/water_supply_engineering:groundwater-depletion-kathmandu"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/groundwater-depletion-kathmandu
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Lowering of groundwater table in Kathmandu

Water Supply Engineering · Chapter 2: Sources of Water

- Asked in: 2075 Chaitra, 4 marks
- Video: [Documentary Ground Water Re charging in Kathmandu Valley](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6GmN8Qpy8o) — Vision Television Nepal
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/groundwater-depletion-kathmandu
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/chapter-2

## Question

Extraction of excessive ground water is leading towards lowering of the ground water table in Kathmandu. List out the possible actions for its sustainable solution.

## Short answer

Sustainable actions include regulating and licensing tube wells, artificial recharge via pits and rain harvesting, protecting recharge zones, importing surface water from Melamchi, reducing distribution leakage, demand management, conjunctive surface-ground water use, monitoring, and restoring traditional stone spouts and ponds.

## Answer

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.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which action controls extraction directly?
   A. Paving recharge zones
   B. Licensing and metering deep tube wells
   C. Increasing leakage
   D. Ignoring illegal boring
   Answer: B. Licensing, metering and limits regulate abstraction. (Key point: Regulation)

2. Artificial recharge is achieved by:
   A. Recharge pits, ponds, wells and roof-top rain harvesting
   B. Concreting open land
   C. More borings
   D. Cutting forests
   Answer: A. These return water to the aquifer. (Key point: Artificial recharge)

3. Conjunctive use means:
   A. Using only ground water
   B. Using only surface water
   C. Using surface and ground water together, more ground water in monsoon, less in dry season
   D. Selling water
   Answer: C. Combine both sources to ease dry-season stress on the aquifer. (Key point: Conjunctive use)

## Related in Water Supply Engineering

- [Why groundwater; quality parameters](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Agroundwater-source-quality-parameters) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 2

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