From water caretakers to community water users associations, residents of Sakteng and Udzorong secure a reliable water future through collective action and climate-resilient practices

Neten Dorji

Trashigang—Sangay Dema, a 40-year-old woman from Sakteng in Trashigang, is the go-to-person in her community, which is plagued by frequent water supply disruptions.

Known locally as Chusungpa (water caretaker), she is the first person neighbours call or message on WeChat for help whenever a tap runs dry or there is a water pipe leakage. In fact, the entire village relies on her expertise.

Despite her own family responsibilities, Sangay Dema’s dedication to water conservation has earned deep respect among the people of Sakteng.

Traditionally, many rural women in Bhutan have managed water and sanitation for their families, but they have often been excluded from broader community decision-making processes.

For Sangay Dema, that changed when the Tshogpa nominated her to participate in water caretaker training as part of the “Towards Climate-Resilient Inclusive WASH in Rural Bhutan” a project, funded by Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Water for Women fund, implemented by SNV Bhutan and the Water and Sanitation Division of Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MOIT).

Upon receiving the training, Sangay Dema immediately applied her new skills to managing the water distribution systems in Sakteng. “Before the training, I used to worry about how to fix water pipes, but now I can repair them myself,” she said.

In fact, she repaired most of the leaking pipes in the village. And her work did not just stop with repairs, she has also been encouraging other women to join the training, advocating for proper water management practices.

Tshering Cheki, another water caretaker who attended the training, said the course had a positive impact on capacity building and personal transformation. “Having attended awareness and sensitisation training on water, I am able to analyse how caretakers can play a role in bringing changes to the community by maintaining clean water,” she said.

A shift in water management

The implementation of such training programmes has brought about a significant transformation in Sakteng gewog. Today, the community cleans its water tanks every month, and residents are increasingly taking responsibility for the maintenance of their own water systems. They no longer rely on the dzongkhag and gewog technicians for minor repairs, demonstrating an empowered approach to managing their water resources.

“Earlier, we drank water directly from the tap, but now we boil it before drinking,” said Leki Yangzom, a 60-year-old highlander, acknowledging the improvement in both water quality and hygiene. “We also store water during the winter when supplies are low.”

In a bid to ensure sustainable water supply, many villages, including Tengma village in Sakteng gewog, have identified alternative water sources. In an event one source dries up due to climate change, the community can rely on the other as an alternative.

Rinchen Tshewang, a water caretaker for Sakteng village, inspects the water sources twice a week and regularly cleans three water tanks. The water source is also properly fenced. “We have ensured that our water sources are well-protected,” he said. “We also make sure that people turn off the water taps after using them.”

Rinchen Tshewang cleans water sources twice a week

Sustainable water practices in Udzorong

Farther south in Trashigang, the success of the Water Safety Planning (WSP) initiative in Udzorong gewog is another compelling example of community-driven water management.

The residents of three chiwogs of  Udzorong have formed a water user group, contributing Nu 100 each to help fund the sustainability of their water systems.

The unique aspect of the water user group is that it incentivises water caretakers to protect water sources, perform maintenance, and conduct regular monitoring.

From a broader perspective, maintaining the upstream watersheds helps ensure a steady water yield, which in turn provides a reliable supply of quality drinking water downstream for the members.

The initiative is based on WSP principles and training they received from the Water and Sanitation Division of MoIT and SNV Bhutan, focusing on clean water supply, sustainability, and collaborative management between association and service users.

Tenzin Dorji, the chairman of the Udzorong Water Users Association, explained that their work goes beyond merely protecting the water sources. “We regularly clean the streams and monitor the surrounding trees to ensure they are not harmed by illegal extraction,” he said. “We also limit the number of cattle near the water sources and enforce strict sanitation practices. It is about sustaining our resources for the long-term.”

The Association has adopted by-laws that govern its operations. It is now planning to open a joint bank account to deposit and withdraw funds needed for minor maintenance.

The group has even introduced fines for those who waste water, with repeated offenders being charged higher penalties.  Individuals found with a running water tap or without a water tap are fined Nu 450 for the first offence, with the fine increasing for repeated offenders.

“This system encourages community members to protect the resource for the benefit of all,” said Rizor Tshogpa, Yeshey. “We have put these measures in place to prevent water waste and ensure a steady flow to the lower villages. Villagers now experience fewer issues with their water supply.”

Trashigang  dzongkhag engineer, Sherab Singye, said that such training programmes have equipped people with skills to manage water resources more effectively, including  minor repairs. “Only major maintenance is managed by the dzongkhags now,” he said.

Sherab Singye also added that with greater awareness of the importance of water resource management and long-term sustainability, local residents are now open to the idea of paying a small fee to maintain the water systems.

A model for resilient communities

The shift towards sustainable water practices is not just a local phenomenon; it is part of a larger effort to tackle climate-related water challenges across the country.

According to Ugyen Wangchuk,  Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion Advisor for SNV Bhutan, colder regions like Sakteng are facing problems such as the melting of glaciers and snow, while areas like Udzorong are experiencing the drying up of water sources.

“Solutions like protecting water sources, managing water systems, and raising public awareness are being actively implemented,” he said. “Collaboration with key partners, including the Department of Water, Water and Sanitation Division under MOIT,  Royal Society for the Protection of Nature, and local government, has been essential in addressing the impact of climate change on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) efforts.”

He added that monitoring systems are in place to track water quality and system functionality in these two gewogs. “To promote community ownership of water systems and ensure their long-term sustainability, we are providing capacity-building initiatives such as Water Caretaker Training, Climate Resilient Water Safety Plans, and Watershed Management Plans.”

This story is produced in collaboration with SNV Bhutan with support from the Royal Government of Bhutan, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government, and the Water for Women Fund.