Recent data from the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage Management (DWSSM) in 2019 reported, merely 51.69% of the population have piped water coverage and the remaining 48.31% are relying on un-piped locally and privately managed systems like private tube wells.

The United Nations’ report in 2018 discloses that 10.8 million people in Nepal do not have access to improved sanitation, and 3.5 million do not have access to basic water services.

Only 25 percent of the water supply in Nepal is fully functioning whereas almost 40 per cent need major repairs. Nepal’s weak water supply system results in meagre sanitation facilities in government schools, hindering the well-being of children in the country.

Bacteria contamination is one of the major reasons why Nepal’s water quality is so low. 71 per cent of all water sources are contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria. Consuming such water results in stomach cramps, diarrheas, nausea, vomiting, and low-grade fever.

However, the case is even worse for the poor people in the country, as nearly 91 per cent of the water sources they use are contaminated with the Escherichia bacteria.