Innovation in Progress: Securing water sources through roadside spring protection in Nepal

A few weeks ago, we spoke with Sonu Khanal, hydrologist at FutureWater, to follow up on the Roadside Spring Protection to Improve Water Security’ project (RoSPRo). Future Water, a research and consulting organisation that combines scientific research with practical solutions for water management globaly, is leading the technical component in the RoSPro project in two municipalities of Dhankuta and Chhathar Jorpati Rural in the Dhankuta district of Nepal. The project addresses the importance of springs for the livelihoods of mountain communities, while simultaneously improving the road infrastructure, recognising that roads and springs significantly impact each other.

Economic developments and population growth are resulting in more roads for commuters and trade. The expansion of the road network causes the disruption of the original natural springs that become roadside springs, due to the implementation of infrastructure.

Spring water is vital for nearly 100 million people living in the hills and mountains, such as in Nepal and the Himalayas, who rely on these springs for drinking water since river water in these regions is often polluted and undrinkable.

The project, which began last June, is vital for the local communities, says Khanal who supervises the technical aspects of the project. “We aim to address the widespread issue of drying springs and severe water shortages. To do this effectively, we first need to identify their locations and recharge areas, understand how springs function, and monitor their flow patterns and amounts”.

Integrating road planning

Khanal emphasizes the importance of integrating road development with water flow management in hilly and mountainous areas. “In this project, we aim to highlight the crucial role of springs in the water management of the Himalayas. Poorly managed springs are often blamed on climate change, but effective management practices can greatly enhance water availability and sustainability. Once a spring’s flow is disrupted, restoring it is nearly impossible. Therefore, meticulous planning is essential to ensure that road construction does not harm these vital water sources.”

Advanced methods

FutureWater has been using advanced methods and tools to map the behaviour of watersheds and springs and provide advice on managing spring water, considering social and economic factors, especially for mountain areas. “The overall objective is to help stakeholders in Nepal to develop science-informed policies for road and water management to promote ‘water security for all’. To achieve this, we collaborated with local communities, municipalities, and regional and national stakeholders to harness their traditional knowledge and tailor the approach to the local context and needs.”

Consortium partners

Since 2014, MetaMeta has promoted using roads for improved water management and climate resilience, beyond just connectivity. This approach integrates roads into the landscape, reduces water-related damage, and ensures year-round accessibility. In mountainous regions, MetaMeta has explored how roads can protect springs and enhance the landscape, leading to a national guideline by the Department of Local Infrastructures (DOLI).

Partnering with FutureWater and ICIMOD, MetaMeta advanced this project. For over two decades, FutureWater has worked on integrated water resources management, climate change impacts, and disaster risk management in Nepal and Asia, offering expertise in quantitative methods, simulation models, GIS, and satellite observations. FutureWater’s toolkits, tailored to local needs, are publicly available. ICIMOD, with extensive experience in springshed management, brings strong institutional partnerships to the project. Khanal explained: “We’re collaborating with DOLI, responsible for all road activities in Nepal, to address the crucial but overlooked issue of springs, vital for mountain communities’ livelihoods, providing drinking water, education support, and enabling small-scale irrigation.” This collaboration leverages the expertise of multiple organizations to emphasize the critical role of springs in sustaining mountain communities.

Digital twins

Khanal explains that in this project, FutureWater is setting up ‘digital twins’ for the springs and watershed using ground-based and satellite-based information. “A digital twin model helps us to understand the behaviour of specific springs and watersheds mathematically. It will help us to identify the sources of water and recharge zones, and calculate the water amount and flow pattern in the watershed.”
The digital twin, combined with a robust decision support system, will help stakeholders to identify the costs and benefits of various interventions needed to restore springs and manage watersheds effectively. Khanal emphasises that this approach is unique because “these digital toolkits will help stakeholders make informed decisions about water management.”

The project will first be piloted on a small scale, with the involvement of the local community and relevant stakeholders to ensure effective implementation. To this end, four critical springs were identified together with the local community. Several data collection expeditions and field visits have been conducted to collect data and information on these springs. The field data will help tailor the digital twins to the local climate and context.
“To facilitate the data collection, monitoring, surveys, focus group discussions, and project implementation, a satellite office has been set up in the region by the consortium lead. The consortium is also using local knowledge by engaging the community and local consultants.”

Approach and phase

“We’re now in the pilot phase, aiming at pre-monsoon interventions,“ Khanal says, confident that the project will be a success. “Protecting springs near roads by constructing Gabion walls and French mattresses is essential to safeguard water outlets. Gabion walls are constructed by assembling wire mesh baskets, filling them with stones, and stacking them to control erosion and retain soil. French mattresses are drainage structures that stabilise soft soils; they are built by excavating the area, laying geotextile fabric, filling it with stones, wrapping the fabric over the stones, and securing the structure. Both methods improve drainage and enhance the stability of water outlets, protecting them from erosion and damage. We’re also building tanks to collect and store spring water, ensuring a consistent supply despite natural fluctuations in water availability.

Goals

Khanal concludes that ideally, “with persistent efforts, we will have built sufficient trust within a year for the community to actively participate in co-designing the process. Immediate benefits, such as a consistent water supply from newly built tanks, are evident. But long-term benefits like increased water availability due to roadside spring protection measures, will take several years to materialise. We are transparent with the community about this timeline, ensuring they understand that while some impacts are immediate, others require patience and time. The project aims for scalability across the Himalayas and similar regions, supported by partnerships with organisations like ICIMOD and potential funding from other entities.

Innovation in progress series

During the Partners for Water 2022 – 2027 programme, several projects that received the Partners for Water subsidy will be followed from start to finish. Over the next few years, they will take you with them on their transformative journey. You’ll be able to gain insights into their promising solutions, innovative processes and collaborations with local partners, as well as their struggles, challenges and valuable lessons learned. RoSPro is part of the innovation in progress series. Click on the button below to find out what was discussed during the first interview.