Located in south Asia and most known for the mighty Himalayan mountain range, Nepal is ranked 146 out of 193 countries in the UN’s Human Development Index.1 In rural Nepal, more than 2 million people lack access to clean water within a 30-minute collection trip.2
Nepal
NEPAL BY THE NUMBERS
Nepal Water Crisis
31
million
national population of Nepal
2
million
people living in rural Nepal lack access to clean water within a 30-minute collection trip
4.6
million
people in rural Nepal lack access to adequate sanitation facilities4
Nepal
The Water Crisis in Nepal
In Nepal, our focus targets isolated mountainous communities in three districts where the greatest challenges include:
The daily burden of water collection
In the dry season, small spring sources run dry, increasing the time spent for collection. Women and children spend up to three hours per day collecting water.
Inadequate infrastructure
Despite high need, no prior water projects connecting water supply directly to the household have been undertaken by the local government or other organizations.
Disease
Lack of clean drinking water leads to an increase in preventable diseases that can have serious health effects on children who lack access to medical care.
DO SOMETHING
Fund a Project in Nepal
Serve an entire community or school with clean and living water. Projects range in cost depending on the region, project type, and amount of people served.
OUR MISSION IN NEPAL
Serving the Unreached
Our partner is committed to serving unreached, isolated rural communities where access to clean water is severely limited. In these remote areas, often overlooked families face significant challenges, spending over an hour per trip during the dry season to collect water from dwindling sources, often multiple times a day.
Schools in these regions lack adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure, leaving students without consistent access to safe drinking water. This scarcity contributes to preventable diseases, particularly impacting children with limited access to medical care. By focusing on these underserved communities, our partner delivers sustainable water solutions to improve health outcomes and uplift the most vulnerable populations.
CLEAN & LIVING WATER IN NEPAL
Our Plan for the Water Crisis in Nepal
With your help, access to clean and living water will be provided to more than 45,000 people in 150 villages across 3 districts by June 2029. You can make it possible to see:
150
communities gain access to water piped from spring sources directly to every participating household
50
schools gain access to safe drinking water and all students trained in improved hygiene and sanitation practices
Local
communities trained to operate and maintain water points
SOURCES:
2 Definition: If the trip to collect from an improved water source takes 30 minutes or less, it is classified as a basic drinking water service. If water collection from an improved source exceeds 30 minutes it is categorized as a limited service.
Stories from Nepal
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Nepal Water Crisis?
In rural Nepal, over 2 million people lack access to clean water within a 30-minute collection trip. This scarcity is particularly severe in isolated mountainous communities where small spring sources often run dry during the dry season. Consequently, women and children may spend up to three hours daily collecting water. Additionally, inadequate infrastructure means that many households do not have direct water connections, leading to reliance on distant and often contaminated sources.
2. Why does Nepal face a water crisis when it has so many rivers?
Despite Nepal’s abundance of rivers, many rural communities, especially in mountainous regions, lack access to these water sources due to challenging terrains and the absence of infrastructure to transport water to households. In the dry season, local springs may dry up, exacerbating the difficulty of water collection. Furthermore, there have been limited water projects connecting water supply directly to households in these areas.
3. How does the water crisis affect daily life in Nepal?
The water crisis significantly impacts daily life, particularly for women and children who are primarily responsible for water collection. They often spend several hours each day traveling to and from water sources, which reduces time available for education, work, and other productive activities. The use of contaminated water sources also leads to an increase in preventable diseases, adversely affecting community health.
4. What is neverthirst doing to solve the Nepal Water Crisis?
neverthirst is implementing projects to provide clean water access in Nepal’s rural communities. Their initiatives include:
- Piped Water Systems: Protecting natural spring sources and transporting water through pipelines directly to households.
- School WASH Projects: Providing schools with improved access to drinking water through the installation of community-scale slow sand filters and offering hygiene and sanitation training to students and teachers.
These efforts aim to serve over 45,000 people in 150 villages across three districts by June 2029.
5. Is the water crisis in Nepal improving?
While organizations like neverthirst are making significant efforts to address the water crisis, challenges persist, especially in isolated mountainous regions. The ongoing need for infrastructure development and the scale of the problem indicate that while progress is being made, continued efforts are necessary to achieve widespread improvement.
6. Does the water crisis affect children’s education in Nepal?
Yes, the water crisis adversely affects children’s education. Children, particularly girls, often spend considerable time collecting water, which reduces their school attendance and study time. Additionally, schools lacking proper water and sanitation facilities can deter attendance and negatively impact the learning environment.
7. How can I help people affected by the Nepal Water Crisis?
Your donation to neverthirst helps build wells and water systems for families who need them. One-time or monthly—any support you give makes a real impact.
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