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Nepalis are still struggling to have access to clean drinking water directly from their taps. Common challenges in the water supply system include receiving turbid water, excessive leakage, blockages lasting at least a week to a month during the rainy season, and microbiological contamination. The Joint Sector Review Report 2023 indicates that Nepal has an 88.6% water supply system coverage, of which only 76.8% are functional. However, many people dispute these figures as they still lack adequate and quality drinking water at their taps.
There are multiple reasons behind the non-functionality of water supply systems in Nepal, one of which is the absence of an asset management plan and its proper implementation. The recently endorsed Water and Sanitation Act 2079 and WASH Policy 2080 acknowledge the importance of proper assets operation, maintenance, and optimal performance through regular upkeep of water supply systems.
Additionally, the Water and Sanitation Guideline 2081, Section 83, Subsection 2, mandates that water service providers submit an annual report detailing the assets within their water supply systems. Similarly, the Draft WASH Sectoral Development Plan (2024-2043) highlights the significance of asset management as a key performance indicator for water and sanitation service providers in ensuring operational efficiency.
Asset management has become a widely discussed topic in the water and sanitation sector. An asset includes any infrastructure, equipment, pipe, fitting, or tool used in a water supply system to facilitate the provision of clean and safe drinking water. Asset management is a systematic planning process that maximizes asset value and ensures financial preparedness for rehabilitation and replacement when necessary.
It helps maintain the desired level of service at the lowest lifecycle cost while ensuring sustainable system performance. Successful asset management requires a thorough understanding of system assets and continuous communication with management and customers regarding future system needs.
Implementing asset management in water supply systems, regardless of scale, offers numerous advantages for operators and service providers. It helps build capacity and resilience, improve operations and maintenance (O&M) strategies, forecast financial projections, promote knowledge sharing, and enhance access to financial assistance. Service providers managing both small and large-scale water supply systems can develop an asset management plan by following these essential steps:
√ Determining the level of service
√ Conducting an asset inventory
√ Prioritizing assets
√ Developing an asset management plan
√ Implementing the asset management plan
√ Reviewing and revising the plan as needed
Service providers should set clear service level goals. The levels of service can be categorized into two broad areas:
• Customer-Level Service Indicators: Accessibility, reliability, quality, efficiency, capacity, customer service, public health and safety, legal compliance, sustainability, affordability, environmental impact, stakeholder engagement, and public participation.
• Technical-Level Service Indicators: Operation, maintenance, asset replacement, rehabilitation or repair, utility management, hazard and risk management, emergency response, non-revenue water management, environmental factors (e.g., drought and demand variations), water system partnerships, workforce efficiency, and internal goals.
The process of developing an asset management plan involves gathering comprehensive data, which is valuable for preparing water safety plans and business development plans for service providers. Several aspects of the collected data can be leveraged to enhance water supply system efficiency and sustainability.
Despite the importance of asset management, only a few water supply systems in Nepal have implemented asset management plans. Lessons learned from these pioneering efforts can be replicated on a larger scale. Additionally, data collected during WASH plan development—such as details of water supply structures, WASH facilities in schools and healthcare institutions, and public toilets—can significantly contribute to the preparation of asset management plans. A promising development is the inclusion of water supply system data in the NWASH system, which can facilitate effective asset management planning.
To scale up the implementation of asset management plans, continuous lobbying and advocacy are required. This process ensures system longevity, provides essential information for routine repair and maintenance, and supports timely interventions that extend asset lifespans while reducing capital investment costs.
Furthermore, a well-developed asset management plan enables service providers to determine the types and quantities of assets needed in a particular area. This transparency can attract private sector investment in the water supply sector. Proper operation and maintenance of water supply systems not only minimize investment costs but also support the Nepalese government in improving service levels and ensuring the long-term sustainability of water supply projects.
Anand Gautam
(Facebook, Anand Gautam | LinkedIn)
The author has been involved in various national and international organizations related to drinking water and sanitation sector for the past two decades.The above opinion is solely that of the author and does not represent the organization’s viewpoint.
