Rainwater Harvesting Enables Adaptive Capacity of Community Schools in Kathmandu Valley

SUMMARY: Water scarcity is a climate induced problem of community schools in the Kathmandu Valley, and rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a practical adaptation solution to it. By collecting and storing rooftop rainwater, schools now have an improved water supply for drinking, sanitation, and cleaning, with excess water being used for groundwater recharge. This intervention has reduced dependence on costly transported water, improved hygiene and sanitation, and supported better student attendance, particularly among girls. It has also raised awareness among teachers and students about rainwater harvesting technology, ground water recharge and water conservation, making schools the center of water adaptation.

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS: The Kathmandu Valley, situated in the mid-hill region of Nepal, is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Although the Valley receives, on average, between 1600 and 2000 mm of rain annually, rainfall distribution has become increasingly erratic over the last three decades. Prolonged dry spells followed by short, intense rainfall events have led to recurrent urban flooding, soil erosion, and deficit of groundwater recharge. Seasonal water shortages are now a critical challenge for households, institutions, and especially schools, where drinking water and sanitation needs are directly linked to students' health and learning conditions. Rising temperatures have further worsened the problems by raising water demand while degrading fresh water, ecosystems and water availability. All of these challenges draw attention to the urgent need for adaptation measures, including technology transfer and installations to enable ground water ecosystems and improve sustainable water access in schools while safeguarding kids' resilience, education, and health.

IMPACT STORY: Rainwater harvesting systems have been installed at eight community schools in the Kathmandu Valley. Annually, with a total roof catchment area of 18275 sq.m.,  2436000 liters of rainwater, otherwise directly discharged into city drainage contributing to urban flooding, are harvested. The harvested water is used for drinking, and sanitation, while excess water is directed to recharge groundwater table. The RWH has reduced dependency on costly transported water, in our school enhanced school hygiene, particularly benefiting female students. “There would be scarcity of water, but now thanks to RWH there is ease for female students like me”, says Ms Aayusma Pandey, a student of class eight of Shree Jana Uddhar Secondary School in Budhanilkantha Municipality, Kathmandu. This interventions benefit 6567 students. The interventions demonstrated that rainwater harvesting was a cost-effective, scalable solution for ensuring water security and climate resilience at community schools of the Kathmandu Valley.