Community-led initiatives are transforming water safety and sustainability, ensuring safer, more secure water for rural homes

Lhakpa Quendren

Zhemgang—In the hills of Trong gewog in Zhemgang, a once-contaminated water source, infested with toads, is now providing safe drinking water, thanks to the collective efforts of the local community.

Residents of Trong and Bjoka gewogs in Zhemgang have formed water user associations to maintain the cleanliness and safety of their water tanks.

The initiative is part of a broader water safety plan developed by SNV Bhutan in collaboration with the government to ensure sustainable water sources and safe drinking water for rural communities.

Local water caretakers, trained in water safety planning, now regularly monitor, clean, and educate residents on water hygiene practices.

The caretaker of Berti village in Trong gewog, Pema Tashi, said that the water safety plan enables early intervention and helps maintain the quality of water.

“We used to find toads and leeches in the water, but now, thanks to the water safety plan, the source is much cleaner,” he said, adding that only one toad was found during recent cleaning, a sharp contrast to previous years.

The water source is about two-and-a-half-hour uphill walk from the village.

Community empowerment

This success story is built on community empowerment, with villagers taking active roles in managing and protecting their water resources.

Local leaders, including Zhemgang Dzongkhag Tshogdu Thrizin and Trong Gup Wangay, emphasised the importance of sustainable practices, such as restricting deforestation and limiting resource extraction near water sources.

“We discourage cutting trees or collecting bamboo around water sources,” Gup Wangay said. “As development activities expand, we ensure that they do not negatively impact our water resources.”

With a forest cover of 94.17 percent, Zhemgang is rich in natural resources such as bamboo shoots, wild vegetables, and canes, with the local population traditionally dependent on these resources.

Gup Wangay said that development activities are aligned in a way that it does not impact water resources, while new water projects are integrated with sustainable practices.

Following the implementation of the water safety plan, community members in Bjoka gewog have buried water pipes underground to prevent damage, and new fences have been erected around water sources for added protection.

The gewog administrative officer of Bjoka gewog, Tshewang Choden, said that the community plans to plant trees around the water sources, even though there are currently no issues with the sources drying up. “Each chiwog has formed an association and selected water caretakers,” she said.

Collaborative water management

Managing water resources is no longer seen as the responsibility of just a few people or local authorities. Instead, it is now regarded as a collective effort, with everyone in the community contributing to the sustainable use and preservation of water for future generations.

The water technician of Trong gewog, Sonam Dendup, said that many neglected water sources, once overgrown and infested with frogs, have now been cleaned. “Community members were trained in pipe repairs, and caretakers clean the water tanks, especially in summer when blockages are more common,” he said.

The officiating chief engineer of the Water and Sanitation Division of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Ugyen Thinley, said that the water safety plan is a successful programme. “When communities understand the long-term benefits of water security, they take ownership of their water systems without budget support.”

As communities adopt safer hygiene and sanitation practices, villagers have constructed pour flush toilets outside, while new buildings feature indoor flush toilets, leading to healthier behaviours.

To address infrastructure and system failure issues, the water caretakers believe long-term skills training is essential. “I have submitted a proposal to the chiwog twice. We should have skilled workers within our own community, rather than relying on the government,” Pema Tashi said.

Ugyen Thinley said that separate training programmes for both urban water treatment operators and rural water caretakers have been incorporated. “The procurement of tools is budgeted for the gewogs through the decentralisation policy.”

The Water Department, under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, takes ownership of the training, although the focus has shifted from soft skills training to infrastructure development with the Water Flagship Programme.

Challenges and ongoing efforts

While the immediate results of these water conservation efforts are encouraging, there are concerns about the future of water sources in some areas.

Water caretaker Pema Tashi is worried that the current water source is drying up year by year. “I am concerned that in two or three years, this source may no longer be viable,” he says.

Gup Wangay said that the Trong-Dangkhar chiwog is already facing water shortages due to the expansion of the town and the growing population.

The issue of water source depletion is not unique to Zhemgang.

According to government statistics, nearly one in 10 water sources in the country has dried up.  In substantial terms, 0.9 percent (69) of the 7,399 water sources in the country have dried up and 25.1 percent (1,856) are in the process of drying up. However, no detailed studies have been conducted on the causes of water source depletion.

SNV Bhutan’s research findings highlight that Bhutan is particularly vulnerable to climate-induced disruptions in water resources, with changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures affecting both the quantity and quality of water. And this is expected to worsen water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)-related health issues in the country.

Officiating chief engineer Ugyen Thinley said that the Department of Water is studying water source depletion and exploring solutions. “While some link the issue to climate change, it is not yet conclusive. We need to better understand climate parameters like temperature, rainfall, and water source discharge,” he said.

He added that human activities, such as road construction above water sources, could also contribute to the depletion.

Gup Wangay said that water problems will likely arise in the future if interventions are not implemented now. “The water safety intervention can have a lasting impact on future generations, even though the benefits may not be immediate,” he said.

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.