Clean drinking water for 35,000 residents in Waling

By Radhakrishna Dumre,Waling, Apr. 15: Residents of Waling Bazaar in Syangja district are regularly consuming purified drinking water. Around 35,000 people living in the bazaar area now have access to water that meets the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Since 2002, the Small Town Drinking Water and Sanitation Consumer Committee in Waling has been managing the town’s water supply system.

According to Dev Bahadur Bogati, chief of the committee, the organisation produces around 2.8 million litres of purified water daily. Around 3,029 households in the main market areas of Waling consume between 2.2 to 2.3 million litres per day.

Residents of Ward Nos. 1, 6, 8, 9 and 10 of the municipality are currently receiving treated drinking water, said Bogati, adding that there are plans to expand people's access to purified water.

Water is managed through four boreholes, three sump wells (excavated water sources) and four springs, producing about 74 litres of water per second, according to Bogati. The collected water from various sources is treated before being delivered to consumers’ homes.

The organisation ensures the water meets five key parameters daily before distribution. Monthly coliform testing is conducted, and over 27 different parameters are tested annually, as per the organisation.

The initiative, which began under the leadership of then-mayor Bhoj Raj Aryal in 2002, has now expanded significantly. Reflecting on the past, Aryal said, “The drinking water project was initiated after cholera outbreaks among residents due to unsafe drinking water.” 

Aryal is currently the Chair of the Economic and Development Committee of the Gandaki Province Assembly.

Bidya Shrestha, chairperson of the committee, said that the federal and provincial governments have been supporting the management of safe drinking water. She said the organisation has been providing clean water by working with different agencies and taking loans when necessary.

“We have prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to supply purified water to all wards. There is also a plan to treat the wastewater used by consumers before releasing it into rivers,” she said.

As Waling Bazaar continues to expand and more people migrate from villages to towns, the demand for drinking water has increased significantly. Mayor of Waling Municipality Krishna Khand said that the municipality has been facilitating the committee's efforts to manage the water supply effectively. 

He stressed that the committee is working to ensure that residents receive clean drinking water and do not face water shortages.