Drinking water project Meghauli
Drinking water as a human right
In Nepal only 24% of the population have access to piped water, and hygienic conditions are often wretched. From the very beginning, a main project of Clinic Nepal was to improve the sanitary conditions for the population of Meghauli.
From hand pump to flagship project
First, latrines and hand pumps were built. Later, access to drinking water was extended by building a deep well (approx. 100 m deep). The water is pumped into a water tower (250 m³) and distributed from there to the households. Over 2,350 of the 2,798 households in Meghauli now have drinkable piped water, which is around 20,000 people. A decline in illnesses caused by contaminated water has been recorded.
Construction took place from 2013 to 2016 and cost around 2.5 million US dollars. Each household contributed 100 US dollars for its tap connection, covering 5% of the total costs. In July 2016 the water project was handed over to the Meghauli Water Project Committee, whose board is elected by the residents. Clinic Nepal continues to advise the committee. The aim is to involve the population through this sustainable, long-term approach.
100 kW photovoltaic system
In February 2021 a 100 kW photovoltaic system was additionally inaugurated. The Förderkreis Friendship Clinic Nepal was able to win the German solar engineering company Krug und Schram to inspect the photovoltaic system and certify it as functional. The total investment is 144,000 US dollars. Of this, 97,000 US dollars were financed by Clinic Nepal and 47,000 US dollars as a loan from the state (Asian Development Bank). The land was provided by the municipality.
The electricity produced is used to operate the water project and surplus electricity is fed into the grid.
Awarded as a flagship project
The project is a flagship project in Nepal – there is no comparable installation of this size. Meghauli received an award from the country of Nepal for it: “Safe Drinking Water Area”. The project is finding imitators in other places in Nepal.