Rainwater harvesting/Salyan District, Nepal

BSP-Nepal in partnership with the RAIN Foundation has collaborated with local NGOs and community members of the district to make a meaningful contribution to the challenges faced by the water sector in Nepal, especially through providing rainwater facilities. The means used to improve the living conditions of select poor and marginalised communities include: rooftop rainwater harvesting, small scale gravity flow schemes, spring source conservation, infrastructure improvements, ground water recharge for mid-hill sources, and rainwater / waste water harvesting for irrigation. In addition, BSP-Nepal has embarked in creating entrepreneurship by providing Micro Enterprise Creation (MEC) training.

Project period: October 2012 – June 2013

Pilot challenge

Current situation

BSP Nepal works in two water catchment areas of the Salyan district where water hardship is very high, on a project to support the livelihood of the community through the provision of rainwater for multiple use services (MUS).

The areas are in close coordination with DDC, DWSS subdivision office, WASH actors and community demand, especially in rainwater harvesting. High water hardship means that sufficient (clean) water is not locally available, but needs to be fetched downhill. Often springs have dried up, and / or other sources are contaminated. The lack of clean drinking water nearby is problematic, especially for (pregnant) women and children who are most vulnerable to diseases. Moreover, the lack of water makes sanitation and hygienic behaviour very difficult, thereby aggravating even further the drinking water problems through contamination of existing sources. Water in these areas is too scarce to be used for gardening, small scale irrigation and for cattle rearing – the lack of water thus has a direct effect on food insecurity.

Socioeconomic and cultural conditions

The target population mainly consists of marginalised groups who are socially excluded, such as the Kamis (dalit group). The population lives uphill at least several hours walking distance from water sources, but also from other facilities, such as markets. People mainly depend on subsistence agriculture and small scale cattle rearing. With settlements on steep hills, undulating slippery paths and with long waiting periods for collecting water, the people face difficulties with time, heath and education of their children, as well as adoption of sanitation and hygiene practices.

Pilot landscape

Salyan district lies in the Midwestern Development Region of Nepal. The project areas lie in the upper hills. Problems specific to these areas regarding water is the absence of pipe-line water supply, drying up of existing streams and springs, no potentials for borewells and thereby high dependence on rainwater for drinking, as well as agriculture. Dependence on in situ rain (for agriculture) limits the production of different agricultural products, such as those that require less water in the drier seasons, which increases food insecurity. The degree of vulnerability is higher amongst the most poor populations.

Pilot purpose

As people are highly dependent on rain water, it is essential to retain and reuse as much as possible for later use, so that the drinking water fetching time is reduced and stored. Excess water can be reused for productive purposes through means of micro-irrigation or for cattle watering.

BSP-Nepal aims to improve access to quantity and quality water supply (mostly rainwater) and sanitation infrastructures, ground water recharge, improve personal hygiene, and domestic / environmental sanitation, particularly focusing on children, women, the poor and marginalised, and communities in remote areas. These improvements will contribute to multiple use of water for livelihood enhancement.

Location and partners

Village, district, country: Korbang Jhimpe, Triveni, Sinbang & Rim, Salyan District, Nepal
Main partner: BSP-Nepal
Role and responsibility of main partner: BSP Nepal is responsible for the coordination of the implementation by the local partners Midwest Youth Unification Centre (MYUC Nepal) and People’s Awareness for Rural Development Centre (PARD Nepal). BSP Nepal is also responsible for the monitoring and coordination at government level, as well as with microfinance institutes. Moreover, BSP Nepal is responsible for the integration of the project into the national biogas program.
Other partners: Simavi
Role and responsibilities of other partners: Simavi co-funds this project

Description

Objectives

Enhancing communities and sector supporting agencies (civil society organization and local government body) to manage, operate and maintain water supply and sanitation schemes, or other built up infrastructures, in a sustainable way
Implementation of 3R solutions to provide water
Increased health and improved livelihood through improved sanitation and hygiene as well as improved food production
Income generation through MUS of RWH and enhanced dignity through entrepreneurship skill

Activities

Identification, selection, prioritization, baseline / feasibility / detailed study
Construction of 58 household level RWH systems
Construction of 2 institutional / communal RWH at schools
RWH mason training
Sanitation & hygiene awareness program / trainings at catchment level
Installation of toilets
Meeting, coordination & linkage built-up with stakeholders
Support for drip irrigation, plastic ponds & other appropriate low cost technologies
Integrating biogas
Awareness program for biogas component
User's training on operation and maintenance
Training on use of slurry for income generation
Monitoring

FIETS

This pilot uses the F.I.E.T.S. model of WASH services.

Financial: BSP- Nepal has previous experience working with micro-financing institutions in the implementation of rainwater harvesting programs. Their knowledge and outcome will be replicated at this project site, including financial sustainability. Income generation opportunities will also be explored.

Institutional: The intervention areas are in close coordination with V-WASH CC and D-WASH CC. Water management committees are set up and trained in planning, operation and maintenance. For effective implementation of the project, an after sales service is set up by BSP Nepal. Sustainability of the rainwater harvesting systems is assured through trainings of the users and local service providers.

Environmental: Environmental sanitation and climate change will be addressed. RWH and the 3R approach support the using and reusing of available water in an efficient way, creating a water buffer for future use, and as resilience against climate change effects. The RAIN program aims at conducting multiple use system (MUS) activities, such as the use of waste water and slurry of biogas for productive purposes.

Technical: RWH systems, biogas, and drip irrigation are the main interventions in the project; indigenous knowledge will be exercised in developing and modifying improvements of these technologies.

Social: The project will focus on gender and social equity. Users groups with 33% women and marginal group representation will be encouraged.

SWOT analysis

Here is a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) of the project:

Strengths: Combination of WASH measures and MUS of water for food security and environmentally sustainable solutions Microfinance component and income generating activities Strong collaboration with local decision makers	Weaknesses: Rainwater harvesting still low on priority list of local decision makers ... ...
Opportunities: Low cost, ‘add-on’ technologies are offered, which might be replicated or installed by population without interference of donors ... ...	Threats: Isolated area: difficult access might hamper/slow down construction Isolated area: the result might be ‘invisible’ for outsiders, thereby compromising the demonstrative/ showcase effects Non-respect of population in paying back their micro-loans

	Current situation	Expected results
Water supply	Absence of pipe-line water supply and springs, no potentials of borewell	Rooftop rainwater harvesting and small-scale gravity flow schemes
MUS	High dependence on in situ rainwater for agriculture and cattle watering	Rainwater and waste water harvesting for irrigation
3R	Drying up of existing streams	Spring source conservation and infrastructure improvements; ground water recharge for mid-hill source
Business development	Subsistence agriculture	Crop diversification and possibly surplus production

Outputs

Total number of people: 1165 (direct beneficiaries water infrastructure)
Type of target group (social / cultural): marginal and Dalit
Economic status: poor
Current economic activities: subsistence agriculture, small sale cattle keeping
Type(s) of water harvesting: roof water harvesting
Type(s) of storage system(s): rainwater jars (<10 m3) and underground tanks (>60m3)
Number of systems: 58 rainwater jars (<10 m3), 2 underground tanks (>60m3)
Number of systems at household level: 58
Number of systems at schools: 2

Documents, videos and links

BSP-Nepal
Simavi
Original Akvopedia.org article and more images: akvopedia.org/wiki/Salyan_District,_Nepal