Bhutan water sources pdf

Acknowledging water resource as a state property and the states. This paper undertakes an extensive analysis of the countrys water resources for better planning and management of the available water resources. Jul 01, 2019 the population and housing census of bhutan phcb 2017 revealed that only about 81 percent of housing units have reliable water supply during the critical hours of the day, this is at 5am8am, 11am12pm and 5pm9pm, and about 1. River hindon is a major source of water to the highly populated and predominantly rural population of western uttar pradesh, india. Mar 20, 2020 while visiting rural areas, i have come across communities facing acute water shortages as water sources, including wetlands and lakes, are drying up. In bhutan, we are fortunate to be blessed with rich water resources and the highest per capita of water availability in our region at 109,000 cubic meters. The chhoesidnyi of bhutan shall be unified in the person of the druk gyalpo who, as a buddhist, shall be the upholder of the chhoesid. Although all households had reasonable access to a water supply, not all households collected water. An entity of the government whose source of funding is the government. The water act of bhutan 2011 1 preamble recognizing that water is one of the most important natural resources of the kingdom. Royal government of bhutan financial management manual fmm 2016 page 6 3 agency. In bhutan, the water, sanitation and hygiene wash programme at homes, in schools and in monastic institutions is a vital component of child survival and development. Today, bhutan is among those nations of the world with high per capita availability of water.

Water resources and rural development 5 2015 116 contents lists available at sciencedirect water resources and rural development j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e. There are many sources of water, especially like mountains, glaciers, and snow. A methodology has been developed and rules have been established to compute the different elements of national water resources. Even so, localized pollution and sporadic seasonal scarcity of water in some parts of the country is a national concern. Kingdom of bhutan country overview 2020 finance ministers. Bhutan s water resources water uses the main stem rivers provide water for hydropower use, waste assimilation, tourismrecreation and ecology with exceptional use in other sectors like irrigation from parochhu. This paper examines india bhutan bilateral engagements in the context of the hydropower sector and the need for both sides to address the concerns arising from indias involvement in this sector. Bhutan can be divided into three zones, the southern foothills, the central inner himalayas, and the higher himalayas. Analysis of historical climate and climate projection for. Bhutan s water resources that are being discussed in this paper are at serious threat due to projected climate change impacts. Access to safe drinking water the entire 100% population of bhutan has access to a safedrinking water source. Competition for water use between residents and industry, as well as drying water sources, are actual and imminent environmental issues facing residents in bhutan.

Climate change could be contributing to the drying up of water sources. The region deserves urgent and an extensive study to understand the. Jan 17, 2019 wash budget and expenditure data are sourced from the glaas 202014 and 20162017 data. The kingdom of bhutan is richly endowed with abundant water resources. In compliance with the water act and the 11th fyp, the water resources coordination division wrcd, and the national environment commission secretariat is pleased to present the national integrated water resources management plan. Water share with health facility 2000 water source protected, introduction of high yielding maize and vegetable variety, more human resource in the geogprotection and rehabilitation of all natural spring ponds in the catchment 2002extension office constructedinitiated water harvesting using large ponds and plastic drums. Principles of integrated water resources management. The union ministry of water resources has estimated the countries water requirements to be around 1093 bcm for the year 2025 and 1447 bcm for the year 2050. This assessment documents the location and status of community drinking water sources in bumthang dzongkhag district. The natural patches of forest were cleared mainly for plantations by the bhutan board particle ltd. Only 63 percent of the bhutanese population have access to basic sanitation services. The plan establishes the principles and mechanisms under which agencies involved in the water sector. A unique 18month process that brought together experts, decision makers and stakeholders since november 2014 to understand current and future risks to bhutan s water resources the natural capital most critical to the countrys economy has come to fruition.

Until recently, having enough water for the family meant making several twohour hikes uphill through thick forest each. Subsurface sources, in the form of springs and aquifers, provide water for domestic water supply and small scale irrigation. Improved water sources include piped water, boreholes or tubewells, protected dug wells, protected springs, and packaged or delivered water. The energy sector in bhutan, comprised almost wholly of hydropower, accounts for a fifth of the nations gdp and almost the same share of all revenue earned. Pdf study of water quality of three major rivers of bhutan. Aquastat faos global information system on water and.

Water is one of the major natural resources of nepal. Tributary rivers and streams provide sources for all other uses with emphasis on water supply and irrigation from. Water quality monitoring and assessment was one of the key issues discussed during the first national water symposium held in may 2017 yoezer et al. That is why growing cities like thimphu and phuentsholing are running short of water. Glacier lake at the source of phochu tshering dendup, uwicer. Commission nec, royal government of bhutan which has the mandate for coordination of water. Sources of water in bangladesh in bangladesh, the sources of water are surface water and ground water.

Aquastat collects statistics on water resources from national sources. All available data confirm that bhutan s water resources are very healthy on a macroscale. For instance, the drinking water program is looked after by two ministries. Bhutan is already facing the impacts of climate change such as extreme weather and changing rainfall patterns. This concern is recognised in bhutan and there are already a range of policies, guidelines and regulations such as the rural water supply scheme policy, the water act of bhutan, 2011, the water regulation, 2014, the environmental standard, 2010, and the watershed management. Pdf urban growth and water quality in thimphu, bhutan. Bbpl is a state owned enterprise producing furniture.

In bhutan, wwf partnered with the national environment commission nec, royal government of bhutan which has the mandate for coordination of water resources management in the country as a local technical partner. Despite bhutan having made significant progress in improving. Bhutan is one of the few countries in the world where the constitution mandates 60 percent forest cover for all times. Bhutan is one of the worlds smallest and least developed countries. Water use in bhutan in general can be divided into three distinct sources. Specialist, alex mcphail world bank, lead water supply and sanitation. It serves as a source of water for two hydro power, agriculture and domestic purposes including drinking. All available data confirm that bhutan s water resources are. Enhancing climate resilience of water sources in bhutan. The water act of bhutan 2011 4 community based water resources management 7. Bhutan is endowed with abundant water resources in the form of glaciers, snow, lakes, streams, and rivers. Tourism in bhutan, which is both an important source of employment and an estimated 20% of nonhydropower revenues, depends on tourists who come, in large. Empirical evidence from bhutan dil bahadur rahut a, bhagirath behera b, akhter ali c a program manager.

It is the result of concerted efforts by different parties. The plan presented here is based on a comprehensive assessment of the current situation and future prospects in light of growing water demands and the threat from climate change. This affects the water body, aquatic animals and health of those people living in the downstream using upstream as their drinking water source. Detailed study was undertaken in 2008 and 2009 on assessment of water quality of river wang chhu which flows through thimphu urban area, the capital city of bhutan. Therefore the mowhs and moh together has initiated to develop an inclusive and holistic national sanitation and hygiene policy which will cater to rural, periurban and urban parts of bhutan.

Definition natural mineral water is water that is clearly distinguished from ordinary drinking water and is characterized by the. Pdf household access to water and choice of treatment. The symposium also highlighted that there were many agencies working on various aspects of water resources including water quality in bhutan. Sustainable sanitation and hygiene for all the australian government is committed to delivering effective and sustainable wash access. In bhutan, wwf partnered with the national environment. Bhutan has supported indias position at the regional and global levels. Water use can include water used and then returned to its source renewable resource.

Gdp data and average exchange rates are from the world bank world development indicators database. Pdf climate change and hydrological perspective of bhutan. Institutional analysis for water quality testing and. To meet the national targets for 2015 would require an additional 425,000 people to gain access to improved water supply, and nearly halfamillion to gain access to improved sanitation, each year. Impacts of climate change on water resources and adaptation. Water shortages have become a widespread phenomenon in rural settlements, and as internal resettlement produces new villages, many there also face water shortages. Bhutan has abundant water resources, but this resource will face new, complex and pervasive challenges caused by population growth and socioeconomic. A study of the india bhutan energy cooperation agreements and the implementation of hydropower projects in bhutan. Water resources and water utilization in bangladesh. Bhutan went into a 21day nationwide lockdown on august 11 after a woman in gelephu tested positive for covid19 and two days later. Water users in bhutan draw water from three distinctively different sources main rivers provide water for hydropower generation, waste assimilation, tourismrecreation and ecology tributary rivers provide sources for all water uses in bhutan mainly irrigation and water supply from headwater streams subsurface water in the form of. The study has identified the following possible locations with natural mineral water resources and.

The analysis that informs this policy brief captured in full in two volumes published by the nec and wwfs living himalayas. The problem of water shortage has been increasing in bhutan over the years. Even so, localized pollution and sporadic seasonal scarcity of water in. Department of health has monitored 83 samples of water from water supply sources throughout the country. Communities shall participate in the integrated management of water resource pursuant to this act, and beneficiaries and stakeholders shall be consulted in the manner set out in this act. Under the wise and farsighted leadership of our monarchs and the peoples reverence and respect for nature, we have always treasured water. The royal government of bhutan rgob recognizes the devastating impacts climate change can cause to the countrys natural resources, livelihood of the people and the economy. Bhutan bhutan has made considerable progress in terms of coverage for both rural and urban water supply and sanitation in the last two to three decades. Water source jungzhina river peak operating flow m3day 5000 design capacity m3day 6500 no.

Mar 20, 2019 for phub zem doya, living in the remote village of singye in southwest bhutan, water is a precious resource one not to be taken for granted. Brief environment report 2004 national environment commission. Kurichu dam spillway, bhutan central water and power. There is a need for such baseline information to assess future trends of drinking water sources in the dzongkhag in relation to factors associated for its production such as forest degradation in the watersheds and climate change. The distance traveled to collect water ranged from 3 to 260 meters and the average distance traveled was 44 meters. In 1990, only 72 percent of the population of bhutan had access to an improved water source and only 67 percent in rural areas. Energy, water, and sanitation authority ewsa, the main planning and budgeting challenge will be to stay ahead of rapid urban growth. Scope this standard applies to all packaged natural mineral water sold as food and is based on the codex standard for natural mineral waters cx stan 1081981.

Water for women will contribute to sustainable development goal 6 sdg6, water and sanitation for all. In her village, climate change has led many water sources to dry up, causing shortages particularly during the dry winter season. Drying up of water sources, a major concern business bhutan. Bhutan water use, resources and precipitation worldometer. Since nepal is a landlocked country, it has no any sources of water from sea or oceans.

Towards ensuring water security for bhutans future. A study of the indiabhutan energy cooperation agreements. Another major plant in southwest bhutan the 18,000kilowatt jaldhaka hydroelectric plant furnished electricity locally and exported the balance to indias west bengal. The per capita availability of water per annum is more than 100,000m. In the rural areas, people have no water to drink and to. Bhutan is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Bhutan has one of the highest per capita water resource availability in the world with. Bhutan has made considerable progress in terms of coverage for both rural and urban water supply and sanitation in the last two to three decades. Supreme court of bhutan changlimithang national stadium royal banquet hall raa training centre design three rows office complex design. Disputed ownership of sources all water resources are vested in the state safeguard mechanisms which are included in the water act of bhutan, 2011 and the water regulation of bhutan, 2014.

In fact, it is the second richest country in water resources after brazil. The projects gross annual income was projected at nu 380 million in 1989. An agency, which is governed by the constitution, acts, a board of directors, a commission or a council. The goal to improve the health of the general public by reducing. Jun 23, 2018 bhutan has made tremendous strides over the last few decades toward ensuring all people have access to clean and safe drinking water. Currently, the watershed management division wmd is conducting study on water sources drying and water quality. Bhutan and ii water balance calculator users manual. Safe water for rural bhutan a story of how danida saved hundreds of lives through its support to rural water supply schemes from 1982 through 1988, the government of denmark financed 947 rural water supply schemes international organizations came with their crucial intervention in the form of rural water supply scheme rwss programme. In 1981 bhutan generated 22 million kilowatthours of energy from hydroelectric sources. The main focus of the exercise was to take the water out of the water box and develop compelling narratives. Introduction bhutan is among the water rich countries in the world. This problem in a country that is rich in water is ironic.