Groundwater recharge systems in KMC Ward 22 and 25 installed and handed over

Groundwater is one of the major sources of drinking water for the residents of the Kathmandu Valley since ancient times. From the last two decades, the excess groundwater extraction, haphazard building constructions and roads have made the significance depletion of the groundwater in the valley.  The change in rainfall pattern, that is extensive rainfall in short duration, has also made some impacts in the natural process of groundwater recharging.

In order to address these issues and to replenish groundwater through the artificial groundwater recharge initiatives, Bottlers Nepal Limited (BNL) and Centre for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD), demonstrating Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in the urban water management, have implemented groundwater recharge project in ward number 22 and 25 of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) in 2024-25. With the key objectives of increasing groundwater level at the selected sites, demonstrating low-cost groundwater recharge technology and motivating local governments and communities to replicate and scale up similar objectives, the project installed six recharge systems in ward 25 and five in ward 22. Each system consists of a recharge well and a filter chamber. The average depth of the well is 20 feet.

After the successful completion, CIUD and BNL jointly handed over the groundwater water recharge systems to the chairpersons of ward 22 and ward 25 in the presence of Ms. Sunita Dangol, Deputy Mayor, of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, ward members and community groups.

Deputy Mayor of KMC Snita Dangol said that there is a need for water recharge in Kathmandu. So as we have been working with CIUD and Bottlers Nepal for water recharge systems in several areas with positive results. The project carried out in Ward 22 and 25 is much important as the area is a core area of Kathmandu.

It has been estimated that the systems will help in replenishing nearly 8,624 kilo liter of water per annum thereby stabilizing the groundwater table of the intervention area.  While the project was implemented closely with both members from Ward 22 and 25, there were also various vital community organisations such as the Sankata Club, Gwahali Dabu, Aryavalokitesvara Sudhar Sumuha, Kel Achaju Guthi and Machhindra Club that contributed their efforts to the project.

This project is the continuation of the tri-partite collaboration of Bottlers Nepal Limited, CIUD and Water Aid Nepal after the successful implementation of similar projects in Ranibari in ward number 3 of the KMC, UCEP in Thimi Municipality, at Rajdal Army Barrack in Lagankhel in Lalitpur Metropolitan City and in Balaju park ward 16 of the KMC. This partnership, through the previous projects, has been replenishing nearly 156,000 kilo liters of groundwater annually.