Cordaid and Parivartan Patra build large hazard-proof water tank in Itpare, Nepal
Dutch development aid organisation Cordaid and Nepal non-governmental organisation Parivartan Patra, together with the villagers of Itpare, constructed a huge 12.000 liters hazard-proof ferro-cement water tank, right on the steep slope of a mountain in Nepal.
The tank provides water for 42 Dalit households. Last year’s earthquakes destroyed water sources in Itpare, just like in many other parts of the country.
Disaster risk resilience
The water tank is part of the disaster risk resilience activities Cordaid and partner Parivartan Patra started after the two mega-earthquakes of 25 April and 17 May last year in close collaboration with local communities in Rasuwa district.
After the earthquakes and landslides water sources simply disappeared, completely disrupting people’s households, as well as agriculture and livestock activities, causing food insecurity and malnutrition.
“Nothing is as important as water", says Murali Nepali (58) from the Dalit community in Itpare and member of the Water user Committee. "Now we are getting water thanks to this tank and our drinking water problem has been solved. I have no words to show our gratitude, except for: Dhanyabad!"
Reshaping the water system
Cordaid and Parivartan Patra constantly worked with villagers to rehabilitate water sources, provided drinking and irrigation water to affected families and worked together with villagers to prevent water-borne diseases.
The water system was completely reshaped, creating or rehabilitating 5 public drinking water facilities and a new water management system for kitchen gardening.
No doubt the biggest feat in Itpare – 1500 meters above sea level – is the new 12.000 liter ferro-cement water reserve tank.
Hazard proof
The old cement tank was destroyed last year. The new one not only re-uses waste water and serves the whole community. It’s also built in a durable, hazard proof way.
The tank is located on the interior side of the mountain slope, which is less prone to landslides. For the construction dry stone masonry was used and a so-called Gabion wall protects the tank structure against flash flooding during the monsoon.
A crossing anchor block prevents the inlet pipe above stream from being swept away by possible landslides.
The valve box next to the tank is ergonomic and has a manhole opening for operation and maintenance. Regular water quality tests are part of the water safety plan which is carried out by the water user committee.
This news item was originally published on the website of Cordaid.
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● COP 21: Netherlands grants 50 million euro to help civil societies in disaster prone areas, 3 December 2015
● WCDRR 2015: Partners for resilience puts communities in front seat of smart DRR, 15 March 2015
● Country: Nepal
More information
Cordaid
The Hague, the Netherlands
+31 70 313 63 00
www.cordaid.org