KATHMANDU - Nepal, often described as one of the world’s most water-rich countries, faces a troubling paradox: only about one-quarter of its population has access to reliably safe and potable drinking water. A recent assessment by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) lays bare the structural, policy, and ecological failures that continue to undermine water security in the country.
Despite vast rivers, glaciers, and an estimated 225 billion cubic metres of annual surface water runoff, Nepal’s springs and groundwater reserves are steadily declining. According to the ADB, over-extraction, unmanaged deep boring, fragmented governance, climate impacts, and weak infrastructure have pushed the country into a crisis of both quality and equity in water distribution.
Rights on Paper, Scarcity on the Ground
Internationally, the right to water and sanitation has been recognised since 2010 through a United Nations General Assembly resolution. In Nepal, this right is constitutionally guaranteed under Article 36 of the 2015 Constitution, further detailed in the Water Supply and Sanitation Act, 2022. These legal provisions affirm citizens’ rights to accessible, clean, safe, and adequate water, with the state bearing responsibility for implementation.
Yet, reality sharply contradicts these guarantees. Budget allocations for the drinking water sector remain inadequate, while institutional fragmentation weakens effective delivery. As a result, millions continue to depend on unreliable sources, unsafe water, or private alternatives they can scarcely afford.
Deep Boring and Drying Springs
One of the most alarming findings highlighted by experts is the uncontrolled expansion of deep-boring pumps, especially in the Kathmandu Valley. The ADB report links the 2025 Madhesh water crisis to policy gaps and disregard for rampant groundwater extraction. Over-pumping has depleted aquifers, dried up traditional springs, and intensified water insecurity in both urban and rural areas.
For rural communities that rely heavily on springs and shallow groundwater, the consequences are severe. As local sources dry up, households are increasingly forced to migrate, turning water scarcity into a driver of displacement and livelihood loss.
Heavy Reliance on External Financing
Nepal’s drinking water sector remains heavily dependent on international funding. Reports indicate that nearly 28 percent of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) budget is funded by external donors. Major projects reflect this dependency: about 71.4 percent of the original cost of the Melamchi Water Supply Project, the country’s largest, came from international financing. The ADB and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation alone contributed over USD 184 million to the project.
While international support has been crucial, experts warn that the government’s own financial and policy commitment to guaranteeing safe drinking water remains well below what is required for long-term sustainability.
The Road Ahead: Governance, Protection, and Investment
Addressing Nepal’s water crisis demands a shift in priorities. First, water resource management policies must directly tackle overexploitation, unregulated boring, and encroachment of water sources. Second, new and resilient drinking water projects are urgently needed, particularly in fast-growing cities where demand continues to surge.
At the same time, Nepal must strengthen domestic financing mechanisms, including public funding, public-private partnerships, and blended finance models. While donor assistance will remain important, long-term water security cannot depend primarily on external sources.
Water as a Test of Governance
As public discourse increasingly focuses on good governance-especially among youth and Gen Z-safe drinking water stands out as a fundamental litmus test. Guaranteeing this basic right is not only a development challenge but also a measure of the state’s credibility and responsibility toward its citizens.
In a country blessed with water, persistent thirst is a failure of governance, planning, and protection. Until safe drinking water reaches every household, Nepal’s promise of abundance will remain unrealised-and its constitutional commitments incomplete.
