National Water Policy

National Water Policy and related policies

In 1999, on the recommendation of the World Bank and after extensive consultation with all relevant actors, including NGOs and the civil society, the National Water Policy (NWP) was adopted. The document explicitly states 6 main objectives:

01. To address the use and development of groundwater and surface water in an efficient and equitable way
02. To ensure the availability of water to all parts of the society
03. To accelerate the development of public and private water systems through legal and financial measures and incentives, including appropriate water rights and water pricing rules
04. To formulate institutional changes, encouraging decentralization and enhancing the role of women in water management
05. To provide a legal and regulatory framework which encourages decentralization, consideration of environmental impacts, and private sector investment
06. To develop knowledge and capability in order to facilitate improved future water resources management plans to encourage, among other things, broad user participation

Furthermore, WARPO has developed a National Water Management Plan (NWMP), which was approved by NWRC in 2004 and aims at implementing the NWP within 25 years. It is expected to be reviewed and updated every five years. In 2005, the national government included the improvement of water supply and sanitation as part of its agenda for reducing poverty.

Complementing the National Water Policy, the government adopted the National Policy for Safe Water Supply and Sanitation in 1998. In 2004 it also adopted a National Policy for Arsenic Mitigation in 2004. The policy emphasizes public awareness, alternative safe water supply, proper diagnosis and management of patients, and capacity building. In terms of alternative supplies it gives "preference to surface water over groundwater". The latter aspect is controversial, since surface water is often highly contaminated with pathogens while deeper groundwater is often safe and free of arsenic.