The World Water Day in Bheriganga

This year’s theme of World Water Day is Water for Peace. There is a risk of conflict if people don’t have equal access to clean water. Over 3 billion people around the world depend on water that crosses national borders. However, only 24 countries have signed agreements to share water resources. Climate change and population growth make the situation even more difficult. Clean water is an immeasurably valuable resource on which every aspect of life depends, so we all need to do our part to protect it. (United Nations, 2024)

Nepal has huge water resources, but still, there is an acute shortage of clean and safe drinking water in several areas.

World Water Day took on a whole new meaning in my thoughts when I travelled to Bheriganga to Sano Harre, Keureni and Mainitar Sanimul villages with SUSWA. The bumpy and winding road took us to Sano Herre past the turquoise Bheri River, mountains, villages, and green forest. The demandingness of life and the amount of work was easy to see but the village was beautiful and the landscape around it was incredible. We started by discussing World Water Day and the importance of water. Water users and sanitation committee (WUSC), beneficiaries of the scheme and SUSWA workers attended the meeting. All three villages have water scheme with inline chlorination system, but they need repair.

The women of the Sano Harre village told me about their lives in the village. They have access to clean water and new water ways are being built. They grow mangos, pears, guavas, and wheat. They collect water for watering crops. The composter was also handy. A new water reservoir was under construction on the slope across the road. The water pipes are led to the upper reservoir from the water source from where water flows into the lower water reservoir and from there further through pipes to households.

Scenery in Sano Harre and meeting with WUSC

Pool of water for watering the garden and vegetables

The next village, Mainitar Sanimul, had similar challenges with water schemes as in Sano Harre. After the gathering with WUSC and speeches, each villager was also given a bar of soap, toothbrush, and toothpaste. The atmosphere was cheerful, and the villagers seem to be pleased with the visit. We took a lot of photos together.

The last destination was Keureni. The water quality needed to be tested and the water scheme to be repaired here as well as in other villages. In all three schemes the quality of non-local

materials were also checked by WASH unit staffs of Bheriganga Municipality and Technical WASH Advisor of SUSWA. Some non-local materials (Pipes, fittings, water meters and manhole covers) were said to return back to the supplier as they were not meeting the quality standards required.

The people of Keureni village were very hospitable, too. One of the village ladies wanted us to taste her tea and the bread she had baked which were of course delicious. She shared experiences from her laborious life. Every morning, she went to the field to get grass for the goats and cows. Then she prepared food and fed animals among other farm work.

A composter and a goat, who is guarding pesticides

People in Keureni get some hygiene supplies

At the end of the day, it was great to see a lot of progress in building and maintaining water schemes, even though there are plenty of challenges in these demanding environments. The cooperation between different actors seemed to work well, which is particularly important in terms of the success and continuity of the projects.