Water Quality Testing in Jitpur

From the period of January 15^th to February 11^th 2015 it was conducted water quality tests (both chemical and bacterial) on ten sites within Ward 6 and Ward 7 of Jitpur while also undertaken individual desktop research on waterborne issues and water remediation methods.

The water quality, while chemically safe by World Health Organisation guidelines, showed levels of Nitrate on the higher end of the guidelines (between 40mg/l to 50mg/l NO₃) and with a ratio of Nitrite to Nitrate above the recommended levels. This gave an indication of possible introduction of nitrogenous fertilizers of faecal contamination. The presence of Thermotolerant (Faecal) Contamination at three of six sites tested indicate that the later was true, that faecal matter is entering the drinking water supply at some point in the system.

Research into the prevailing waterborne illnesses in the region (Typhoid, Hepatitis and Diarrhoea) were all transmitted easily through contamination of infected faecal matter into drinking water supplies, confirming that this is a primary cause for high waterborne illness in the community, especially during monsoon season. Furthermore elevated levels of Nitrate and Nitrite may cause the possible of Methaemoglobinaemmia or ‘blue baby syndrome’ if levels increase above WHO guidelines.

The JitpurPhedi community in the Kathmandu district, is located only 20km from Kathmandu but has many prevalent issues ranging from infrastructural development to education levels. The access to clean and accessible drinking water has been an issue for numerous years, with the local water management infrastructure delivering water from the natural source (in the north lying parklands) to the community through a network with multiple points of leakage and contamination. In order to remediate this Volunteers Initiative Nepal has helped volunteers to live within the community and undertake investigative reports to understand not only the points of prevailing issues, but to develop methods to alleviate drinking water access issues.