Waters in Mt Everest region contaminated

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, April 20

Contamination in water bodies in the Sagarmatha National Park and its Buffer Zone (SNPBZ), enlisted under the UNESCO world heritage site, has accelerated, owing to the increasing visitors and produced human excreta in the area. Every year, some 27,000 international tourists visit the Mt Everest, the highest peak of the world, which lies under the national park.

A scientific survey sponsored by the Hindu-Kush Karakoram Himalaya Partnership Project--EvK2 National Research Council Project of Italy in coordination with the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology was conducted from 2007-2008. A project on ‘Impacts of Tourism in the SNPBZ’ was carried out by Prof Dr PK Jha, NP Ghimire and BB Shrestha of the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University.

According to the research, bacterial contamination was recorded in 13 percent water samples and one sample of mineral water. “E coli and Streptococcus faecolies were found in the waters of Khumbu Valley,” Dr Jha exclusively told The Himalayan Times. Famous water bodies in the area are Dudhkosi, Bhote Kosi, Imja Khola and Gokyo lakes.

KATHMANDU: The research team has recorded 62 Species of Algae in the area. Among them, at least 10 species of Algae are recorded new for Nepal. They were identified in cooperation with Algae expert Dr SK Rai. “We are still testing the samples and will release the research officially soon,” researcher Prof Dr PK Jha said.

Besides the local visitors, porters and guides, the total population of the area is 5,869. Unsafe toilet and overuse of manures are the major causes of water contamination. “Litter toilet is common in farming sides and used as fertilizer in potato fields,” said the research team. “There are three types of toilet tanks--simple pit (47.34%), non-cemented stone-wall septic tank (47.88 %), cement-wall septic tank (4.66%).”

A total of 2,197 metric tons of manure is produced yearly and 1.7 tons per household. “Eight tones of manure is used in per hector of fields, which contaminates the water badly,” said Jha. “The nutrient contribution in the per hector of field measures Nitrogen 97kg, Phosphorus 55kg and Potassium 136kg whereas the recommended dose is 70kg, 50kg and 40kg per hector respectively.”

Nitrate nitrogen content in water ranges between 0.1 and 1.98 mg/litre now against the 1998 report of Reynold et al by 0.15-0.17 mg/litre, according to the findings. Total Phosphorus content range is 0.02-0.66mg/litre but the USEPA criteria for rivers/streams measures by 0.1 mg/litre.

Six water samples has iron content of 1.2 mg/litre in Jorsalle Dudhkosi and 0.64 mg/litre in Bhote Kosi near Thame against the quantity of less than 0.3 mg/litre as per WHO, Nepal standard for drinking water.

A sample from Dudh Kosi and Jorsale has 1.48mg/litre Copper content against the standard of 1.0mg/litre.

Sodium, Magnesium, Lead, Manganese were below the WHO Standard but higher than earlier report. Sodium content was measured 0.2-6.4 mg/litre against the earlier report of 1.61 mg/litre.

“Water pollution prevention programme should be implemented to control the hazard,” Jha added.

The field was visited in September 2007, May 2008 and November 2008 respectively. Structured questionnaire and interviews were applied in 20 percent of the households. The samples were tested under the standard methods at Environmental Assessment Material Testing Division, Battisputali, Kathmandu.


This news article has been published in THE HIMALAYAN TIMES on April 21.