“Blue School taught us proper water management”- Pakistani Delegates

Nepal is considered to be second richest country in water resources but still there are many places where people have to travel hours to fetch single bucket of water. However blue schools in Thumki VDC of Kaski District proved that when there’s need people will find a way out to fulfil the need.  People in Thumki VDC previously had to travel for almost an hour and another hour to get a bucket of water but the situation is quite different at least in schools. Thanks to International rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA) and Kanchan Nepal who promoted rainwater harvesting system in few schools of the VDC.

Delegates in meeting with the stakeholders

A team of Pakistani delegates visited the schools on 26^th June 2013 to collect information on ongoing activities and its contribution in improving issues of WASH in the community. During the interaction session among school management committee member, project proponents and Pakistani delegates at Jateshwor Secondary School, Nirmal Adhikari, project coordinator at Kanchan Nepal said “A school should be a place where children wishes to go and do not run away. We have tried to develop blue school in same way.”  Thumki VDC previously had issues of water and sanitation but now after school has installed rainwater harvesting system, at least students get enough water to drink and for sanitation. “Around 60000 litres of water is collected in 5 tanks constructed in the school premise which is used for drinking and sanitation in the school and also is supplied to some of the households nearby occasionally” informed Tirtha Raj Neupane, Principal of Jateshwor Secondary School. The project proponents are satisfied that the project has brought significant changes in using water and improved sanitation in the area. However they are also continuously being requested by the community to help in installing rainwater harvesting system in their household. “Children have access to enough water for sanitation at school which they do not have in their house, this has invited some problem and obliged parents to manage enough water,” added Tirtha Raj Neupane.

Shahid drinking the rainwater

Along addressing issues of WASH blue school also incorporates issues of greenery, physical fitness and mutual respect and understanding.

The delegates visited Jateshwor Secondary School and Shivalaya Higher Secondary School in Thumki and gathered information on Blue Schools of the area. The delegates were interested in improvement of sanitation also. One of the Pakistani delegates, Ajmal Khan asked if sanitation in the community has improved to get positive answer from the community members.

Shivalaya School- Kaski

Another delegate Syed Mahazan praised the activities in blue school and said, “Blue school in Kaski are very impressive. I am from hilly region; though water is enough in my place its management is not proper. If Rainwater system can be installed and utilized properly, it’s possible that we will never face problem of water.”

The Pakistani delegate were on a week-long (25 June to 1^st July 2013) visit to Nepal to collect information on WASH activities in Nepal and is expected to disseminate it in Pakistan.

Group photo at Jateshor Secondary School

Belief in Rainwater Harvesting System

                                                                                                     -By Bimala Gurung

Nirmal Basti, a small community located in Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City of Nepal has so much to share about Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) system. At the entry point itself you can see a board of RWH. When I along with couple of my friends first visited the place, we first saw an encouraging board.

 

                Encouraging people to develop the community as a model for RWH system.

With the trust between the local people and external agencies and their joint effort, total of 22 RWH systems have already been constructed in this community solely for recharging a nearby community recharge well. From 13 rooftop catchments and 9 surfaces run off catchments, the rainwater is being recharged. Even the storm water is being managed and recharged in this well.

                                                     A community recharge well.

According to the reference data collected on 1 November, 2012, the outside diameter was 4’10” and inside diameter was 4”4”, the depth of water was 28’6”, water of 5’ was available and the level of water was 23’6”. The water level has certainly risen in the recharge well since then as when we collected data on 15 August, 2013, we found outside diameter to be 42” and inside diameter 38”, depth of water 27’9”, water of 8’5” available and the water level 19’4”.

The RWH system has definitely been beneficial to the community and its people yet during the months of March and April, the recharged well tends to dry out. The community people are forced to buy tanker costing them approximately Rs.600 per 1000 liter per month in average. Even though they have their complaints, they believe in years to come the well will be recharged enough and they can fully rely on the community well for water. What is more inspiring is the faith of the community people on RWH that it indeed is going to fulfill their water demand. They have all the right reasons too to have such faith...