Drought-like conditions, contaminated water spark outbreak risks in Nepal

Sixty percent of drinking water samples collected in Nepal's Lalitpur district are contaminated with fecal coliform, indicating widespread sewage contamination and posing a significant public health risk. Twelve out of 20 samples tested from household taps, public taps, schools, and government offices were found unfit for consumption.

Health experts warn that the worsening water scarcity, exacerbated by drought-like conditions, could force residents to use unsafe water sources. This situation increases the likelihood of water-borne disease outbreaks, a recurring problem in Nepal. Past epidemics of cholera, dysentery, and typhoid have been directly linked to poor water quality.

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Due to a busy schedule and a human resource crunch, we have not been able to carry out testing of water quality in other areas. We will resume testing water in other areas from next week.

Officials at the Public Health Office in Lalitpur cited a busy schedule and a shortage of human resources for the limited scope of testing. They plan to resume testing in other areas next week. The presence of fecal coliforms, including E. coli, is a persistent issue, with even bottled water sometimes found to be contaminated.

Last year, Nepal witnessed a severe cholera outbreak in the Parsa district, which overwhelmed health facilities and led to school closures. Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun, chief of the Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, cautioned that a similar scenario could unfold this year if preventive measures and awareness campaigns are neglected. He stressed that as water crises deepen, people may use any available water source without regard for its quality.

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Such a scenario could repeat this year also, as drought-like conditions have created water scarcity in various places. When the water crisis deepens, people could use the water from any available source without considering its quality.