Water resource survey shows that there will be maximum increase of water demand in Mongar gewog in about 10 years from today.

Under National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) II project, four dzongkhags – Mongar, Tsirang, Samtse, and Pemagatshel were studied to develop a community level water resource inventory.

With 17 gewogs in the dzongkhag, Mongar has a population of 44,259 people.

The survey provides an overview of the status of water in terms of quantity and quality.

According to the survey, demand for water is assumed to increase up to 250 litres per capita per day by 2030.

About 96 percent of people in Mongar claim to have adequate water. Only 2.48 percent of the surveyed pointed out having water only during summer.

While about 56.98 percent of the surveyed responded to be ‘very satisfied’ with the water quality, 41.86 percent responded that they were ‘somewhat satisfied.’ However, the survey states that only about 33 percent of the total households surveyed responded to the question.

Similarly, to the survey question on the availability of irrigation water, 22 households accounting to 60 percent of the total surveyed responded to the question. About 60 percent of the respondent said irrigation water was adequate while about 14 percent said it was inadequate.

Meanwhile, under NAPA II project, Tarayana Foundation also worked in these four dzongkhags to develop community level climate resilient water harvesting storage and distribution system.

In Mongar, the foundation worked in about 15 communities with 288 households.

For small-scale users and for households far from water sources, a roof water collection system was put in place. Spring water harvesting system was also initiated in these four dzongkhags.

Tarayana Foundation officials said that in Mongar about 250 rolls of water pipe were distributed covering about 15km.

She added that 22 reservoir tanks and 54 water-harvesting tanks were installed in Mongar.

Water source fencing, training on piping and plumbing to locals, and bamboo filtration measures were also put in place under the project.

Phurpa Lhamo

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