Thinley Namgay

The Mawongpa Water Solution has installed four water taps at the Centenary Farmers Market (CFM) replacing the temporary hand-washing stations at the market.

The hand-washing stations installed by the CFM management on March 13 amid Covid-19 pandemic was only for washing hands. Water from the new taps is safe to drink too. SNV Bhutan, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health funded the taps.

Founder of the Mawongpa Water Solution, Sonam Dorji said that a single tap would last for 20-30 years if used responsibly. “Except for a few, most of the materials needed for the taps had been manufacturing at Namseling, Thimphu.”

Close-circuit camera surveillance is also placed to monitor how people are using it.

Sonam Dorji said that there are 20 water taps set up in 11 dzongkhags funded by SNV Bhutan, and UNICEF.

Major contributions of Mawongpa water group so far include fixing of the water station at clock tower worth of Nu 1.4M, and two sets of water taps worth of Nu 230,000 at the flu clinic centre in Thimphu.

Meanwhile, shopkeepers behind the CFM have also installed hand-washing stations made up of portable containers, big barrel, and sintax tank. In total there are around 22 taps.

Shopkeeper Chenzo Zangmo and her friend set up sintax tank last month in front of her shop which has a capacity of 500 litres of water. Chenzo Zangmo said that it was for the public. “I fill up the water every after three days. It is better to have more hand-washing taps to reduce the crowd,” she said.