Drying Water Springs

Water is undeniably crucial for sustaining life and preserving a healthy environment. However, water sources are not equally spread out and are gradually decreasing. In the Himalayan region, natural springs and small rivers are vital sources of water for drinking, livestock, irrigation, and various other needs. The primary resource imperative for life support in mountainous communities is under threat of disappearing at a fast pace, creating a severe challenge for millions who depend on it for clean water and sanitation. The water crisis has grown due to unplanned development works, the effects of the 2015 earthquake, climate change, deforestation, floods, and landslides. It is an inescapable outcome of human activities having negative implications for sustainable development of society.

According to ICIMOD, over the past 10 years, around 20 per cent of water springs have dried up across Nepal, and about 50 per cent have seen a reduction in their flow. This is a significant issue because roughly 10 million people in Nepal depend on spring water for drinking, household use, and some irrigation. As per the news report published in this daily, springs had dried up in 74 per cent of local government units, with medium to severe problems observed in 44 per cent of them. The consequences are disastrous because of the shortages resulting in migration in quest of water, and further human misery. 

While isolated attempts at water collection and tree planting are being made, these are just not enough against the scale of our demand and the rarity of water as a resource. Besides, the plan on household taps is commendable. Nonetheless, it doesn't seem to consider well-managed water in the long run. This leads to a loss of water for future generations. An enlarging data gap by itself escalates the burden, as precise input strategies may not be effective and implementation uncertainty remains. To unveil the steps that failed, we need to conduct field studies. Designing those remedies is the major agenda.

The crisis of spring conservation will be addressed through the development of strong community-based support for conservation projects. Local administrations should actively take on the responsibility of tasks like water management, implementing them strictly through clear provisions and available tools. The concerned authorities should have a fresh plan that brings together planning from big areas to the springs and engages every citizen from the bottom to the top. The local water groups have to be supported, water saving should be a priority, and unplanned development should be stopped. This will ensure that we have enough water, that we are sustainably using the water by conserving and using every drop, and that our communities will grow. 

First of all, community sensitisation is a must, as it ensures ownership among locals and makes them responsible stewards of these sacred water bodies. Therefore, the issue of the depletion of spring water supplies nowadays must be addressed without delay and with all efforts. This is an alert to the authorities, local people, and all the concerned groups of society to fast-track conservation, close the knowledge gap, and take on sustainable practices. Inaction today threatens ecosystems as well as livelihoods. There still are some cases where people have migrated from villages due to drying up of water sources.