Only 47.5 percent of Nepalis get safe and sufficient drinking water supply: NSO report
Summary
Only 47.5 percent of Nepalis have access to drinking water that is safe, sufficient and available on their own premises, according to a National Statistics Office report. The report also says safely managed sanitation remains low, with arsenic and E. coli contamination posing major concerns, especially in the Terai.
Key Points
- The National Statistics Office says only 47.5 percent of Nepalis receive drinking water that is safe, sufficient and available on their own premises.
- E. coli contamination remains widespread, with 53.9 percent of sources free from bacteria and 61.2 percent of household drinking water samples showing contamination in a related UN Habitat report.
- Safely managed sanitation services cover only 39.9 percent of the population, despite 92.8 percent having improved toilets.
- Arsenic contamination in groundwater remains a serious issue in the Terai, where 7.4 percent of people consume water above World Health Organization limits.
