KATHMANDU: With the torrential rains that began on Friday, the flow of water from sources to the distribution network has become unstable, seriously disrupting the Kathmandu Valley's water distribution system.
The majority of the distribution stations that feed water to the Valley, as well as the processing facilities and springs, sustained major damage due to flooding, as stated by Prakash Kumar Rai, the spokesperson for the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL).
Water is only being distributed through a partial distribution network as a result of the damage to the supply line from Pharping and the water distribution system servicing Lalitpur.
The water distribution system serving Lalitpur and the supply line from Pharping have been particularly affected, leading to water being delivered only through a partial distribution network.
Rai noted that several distribution stations remain flooded, but cleaning efforts are ongoing with the deployment of all available manpower.
The supply of water from Melamchi, which has been halted since June due to rains, has not yet resumed to Kathmandu.
In the meantime, KUKL has been extracting water from nearby rivers and underground sources, treating it, and then distributing it to the Valley.
The heavy rains on Thursday and Friday further damaged water fountains, pumps, and the overall distribution system, adding to the challenges.
As a result, since Saturday, KUKL has been unable to supply water to most parts of the Valley according to the usual schedule.
Rai explained that in the absence of Melamchi water, KUKL has been relying on water from rivers and underground sources, though the rains have worsened the conditions in these rivers.
He emphasized that it is currently difficult to predict when the water distribution system will return to normal, though restoration efforts are ongoing.
Rai stated that the maintenance of water distribution is difficult due to the flooding of all pump buildings, the washing away of several springs, and the damage of several processing units.
Additionally, many stations remain inaccessible, and some KUKL offices have also been affected by the flooding.
On Monday, however, Sundarijal's water supply was restored; nonetheless, subterranean water pumping won't start again until specific sections' surface water dries off.
More intense rains are expected to begin tomorrow in the Bagmati and Koshi regions, according to the Weather Forecasting Division. This could make repairs to KUKL's systems more difficult.
The Kathmandu Valley's scarcity of drinking water is becoming a rising concern, as many locals have been experiencing the effects of the interrupted water supply on a daily basis for the past week.
