---
title: "Sources for hilly rural areas; river vs spring"
subject: "Water Supply Engineering"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_5/water_supply_engineering:hilly-rural-sources-river-spring"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/hilly-rural-sources-river-spring
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Sources for hilly rural areas; river vs spring

Water Supply Engineering · Chapter 2: Sources of Water

- Asked in: 2081 Baisakh, 2+2 marks
- Video: [Gravity Water Supply System | Unit: 8 | Water Supply Engineering | Prashant YT |CTEVT | 4th sem |](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlKGf6Tma2U) — Prashant YT
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/hilly-rural-sources-river-spring
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/water_supply_engineering/chapter-2

## Question

Describe the possible water sources for a public water supply system in the hilly rural areas of Nepal, and discuss the quality of water from these sources. Describe briefly river and spring sources in terms of quality and quantity of water.

## Short answer

Springs and streams are the main sources; springs give clear, safe water when protected, while streams are turbid in monsoon and polluted by settlements and animals. Spring yield is small, about 0.1 to 2 litre/s, while river flow is large but highly variable, with minimum flow in the dry season.

## Answer

#### Possible sources
In the hilly rural areas, the sources are springs, streams (khola), rivers, ponds, dug wells and, in some cases, rain water. Springs and streams are the main sources for gravity schemes.

#### Quality of water
- **Spring:** clear, low turbidity, cool, and free of pathogens when protected. Slightly hard, sometimes with iron. Needs only disinfection.
- **Stream/river:** turbid in the monsoon and exposed to pollution from upstream settlements, animals, agriculture and landslides. Needs sedimentation, and sometimes filtration and chlorination.
- **Pond/dug well:** polluted by surface drainage and animals; used only when nothing else exists.

#### River source
- **Quantity:** large, but varies greatly, with minimum flow in the dry season (March to May) and floods in the monsoon. Must be gauged in the lean period.
- **Quality:** turbid in the rainy season, low in dissolved minerals and bacterially polluted. Treatment is necessary.

#### Spring source
- **Quantity:** small, often 0.1 to 2 litre/s, depending on rainfall and catchment. It must be measured in the driest period, since the yield is lowest just before the monsoon (March to May).
- **Quality:** good and constant, and safe if the spring box is protected and the catchment is free of latrines and grazing.

## Check yourself

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

1. Spring yield should be measured in:
   A. The monsoon
   B. The driest period
   C. Any day
   D. Winter night
   Answer: B. Yield falls in the dry period so it must be measured then. (Key point: Spring quantity)

2. River flow is minimum in:
   A. July to September
   B. December only
   C. March to May
   D. June
   Answer: C. Minimum flow occurs in dry season March to May. (Key point: River lean flow)

3. A protected spring typically needs:
   A. Only disinfection
   B. Full coagulation plant
   C. Desalination
   D. Softening
   Answer: A. Protected spring water is clear and needs only disinfection. (Key point: Spring treatment)

## Related in Water Supply Engineering

- [Water sources: quality and quantity](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Asources-quality-quantity) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 2, asked 3×
- [Rural area 22000 L/day river supply (question text cut)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Ares-a76) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 7
- [Intake type for hilly area of Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Aintake-for-hilly-area) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 5, asked 2×
- [Preferred source for hilly region](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Ahilly-region-source-preferred) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 2
- [Typical water supply system and components](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Atypical-ws-system-components) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1, asked 4×
- [Water supply system and historical development](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fwater_supply_engineering%3Aws-historical-development) — Water Supply Engineering, chapter 1

## Related in other subjects

- [Cross drainage works favourable in hilly areas](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Acd-works-hilly-areas) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 8
- [Water quality parameters and Nepal drinking water standards](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenvironment_and_pollution_control%3Anepal-drinking-water-quality-standards) — Environment and Pollution Control, chapter 4
- [Short note: Water supply and distribution system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Awater-distribution-short) — Building Technology, chapter 12, asked 2×
- [Quality; QA vs QC; factors in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aquality-qa-qc-nepal-factors) — Project Engineering, chapter 4