Challenges of Urban Water Security and Drivers of Water Scarcity in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Water security and quality are among the six focal areas of the Eighth Phase of the International Hydrological Program. Several cities are struggling to meet water demand due to factors such as urbanization, pollution, and disasters. Consequently, water scarcity impacts various sectors, including human health and socio-economic development. Against this backdrop, we conducted research to examine the current state of water resources and the factors contributing to water scarcity in the Kathmandu Valley (KV), currently experiencing acute water shortages. The study employed three primary data collection methods, observation, interviews, and secondary data analysis, followed by qualitative analysis to achieve its research objectives. We analyzed the findings using the framework of the three pillars of Urban Water Security (UWS): water resource security, water environment security, and water disaster security. The dimensions of water quantity and quality interconnect with these pillars, which define the manifestations of water insecurity. The analysis showed that the KV significantly weakens all three of the UWS pillars. Through this research, the author developed a novel framework (PUMI): pollution, urbanization, management, and investment are root causes of water insecurity in the KV. These four factors identified and analyzed specific challenges such as inadequate building permit regulations, donor-driven investments, and poor management practices.