SUWS tap ( Top left) with pipes connected to households for multiple purposes (Jhuna Kattel)
A Single Use Water System (SUWS) is the one in which the supplied water serves a single purpose. Traditionally, the system was constructed in order to meet the growing demand and serve a single purpose i.e. supply drinking water to households ( hence the name "Single Use" water systems). However, people's demands and needs increased and supplied water was then used for various purposes like for irrigation, animal husbandry, domestic chores like bathing, washing, etc.
The technology is applied in a natural environment (community forest). The source of water is a natural source that lies in a community forest and hence, the availability is seasonal. The land where the source falls is owned by the government and the implementation of the technology was primarily assisted by the Village Development Committee (VDC). Its use rights falls under the water users. The main elements include a concrete Reservoir tank (RVT), pipeline and tap system or tap towers with faucets. The major functions of this technology are to store water and distribute to the 30-35 households and to ensure the preservation of natural water source through its sustainable use. Major activities are labor and construction activities for building the reservoir tank and laying down the pipeline. Maintenance work, if and when it is needed, is carried out with the help of the water users. No specific group or committee has been formed that looks onto the matters of discussion of the committee. No investment has been made by the local water users' group towards the construction of the technology. Benefits of the technology are the availability of clean drinking water at household level and the preservation of the natural source of water that ensures its perennial availability. Water users admire the overall improvement of their health status through the availability of clean drinking water.
They dislike the fact of water scarcity during dry seasons and the poor management of the system. The quantity of the water is adequate for most of the year. However, scarcity of water during the dry months (when the source dries out) is still eminent. Quality of water is good with low salinity and or iron and other elements but persistence of lime in the water remains.
Location: Kunathari VDC -10, Odaltaal, Province 6, Karnali, Mid - Western Development Region, Nepal
No. of Technology sites analysed: single site
Spread of the Technology: evenly spread over an area (approx. 1-10 km2)
In a permanently protected area?: Yes
Date of implementation: 10-50 years ago
Type of introduction
| Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit (NPR) | Total costs per input (NPR) | % of costs borne by land users |
| Labour | |||||
| Voluntary | |||||
| Equipment | |||||
| Construction of RVT | |||||
| Laying down pipeline | |||||
| Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit (NPR) | Total costs per input (NPR) | % of costs borne by land users |
| Labour | |||||
| Voluntary Labour contribution by locals | 100.0 | ||||
| Equipment | |||||
| Changing of PVC Pipes | 25.0 | ||||
The access to all these services is limited as the locals have to traverse a distance of almost 30 minutes to bazaar area / marketplace. The road infrastructure is good.
Prior to the adoption of the technology, typhoid, jaundice, diarrhea and dysentery used to be a problem during the summer and rainy seasons. However, after the adoption of technology, the number of cases of such illnesses have drastically decreased and overall health status of the people greatly improved due to availability of clean drinking water.
Water can be made available to distant places with the connection of a PVC pipe to the faucet in SUWS tap towers. Thus, more people are being benefitted from the technology.
