Universal Access to Sanitation and Drinking Water for all by 2017 AD

This is an appeal posted by Water Aid on May 2011 to people's representatives, politicians, policy-makers and government officials.

Taking Commitments Seriously:
The government of Nepal has committed itself to ensure access to safe drinking water and sanitation for all in Nepal by 2017 and meet the MDGs to have 73% water coverage and 53% sanitation coverage by 2015.


Taking Rights Seriously:
UN General Assembly (2010) stated that access to sanitation and safe drinking water is a part of human rights. Nepal has also placed its own act, standard and policy for water and sanitation.

According to the Government of Nepal's Water Resource Act 1992 (2049 BS), the right to use water for drinking purposes overrides the right of use of same water for any other (irrigation/commercial) purposes.

Similarly, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation National Policy (2004) recognizes sanitation as an integral part of drinking water projects and programs which directs GoN to spend 20% of the water and sanitation budget on sanitation.

Taking Nepal's Situation on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Seriously:
The present scenario of Nepal on WASH is a matter of serious concern. According to Water Aid Nepal (2009), it is estimated that every year 10,500 children die in Nepal due to water and sanitation related diseases. The data of DWSS (2010) and CBS (2009) pointed out that 5.6 million Nepalis (around 20% of the population) do not have any access to safe drinking water.

Due to the lack of toilets 16 million Nepalis (around 57% of the population) practice open defecation everyday (Nepal MDG progress report 2010, GoN and UNDP and CBS, 2009). Even in schools there is a lack of toilet facilities. It is found that only 41% of public and community schools in Nepal have toilet facilities. Among these, only one in four schools has separate toilets for girl students.


According to the study conducted by Ministry of Health and Population (2006) in its report 'Equity in Health', it has been estimated that 14 million Nepalis (around 37% of the total population) wash their hands with water after defecation. Among these, only about 12% (3.4 million) wash with soap.

Overall, it has been estimated that Nepal needs an annual investment of NRs. 7.5 billion (USD 108 million) to meet the national goal of providing everyone with safe drinking water and sanitation facilities by 2017 (Sector Financing Study, WaterAid Nepal, 2008 and Red Book, Ministry of Finance, 2009).

Serious Benefits that Contribute to Nepal's Development:
Various studies have calculated the benefit to Nepal's development due to investments in WASH. According to UK DFID study, gender-friendly toilet facilities at schools could increase the enrollment of girl students by 11%.

Even simple hand-washing practices could prevent diarrheal outbreak by 45% (Fatal Neglect Report, WaterAid, 2009). Hence it has been estimated that the economic returns - in terms of health, education and livelihood benefits- from every dollar invested on water and sanitation are worth about nine US dollars (WHO 2008. Sanitation generates economic benefits, Fact Sheet).