The cultural dimensions of household water security: the case of Kathmandu’s stone spout systems

Coping strategies for individual and household‐level water insecurity: A systematic review

“…In Kathmandu, Nepal, the use of stone spout water systems was more common among those without access to formalized water networks and spout use increased when households experienced water stress. During the dry season, residents queued in line, and without access to a reliable water source, sometimes waited several days to bathe children or wash clothes (Molden, Griffin, & Meehan, 2016).…”

Water in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

“…Many of these urban centres are hill stations set up by the colonial British government on ridgetops, while water sources are deep down in the valleys. Compounding the problem of water shortage are issues such as neglect of traditional water systems like stone spouts and springs (Molden et al 2016;Colopy 2012), outdated and poorly constructed water distribution systems that get superimposed on traditional water systems, pipe leakages, and poor governance that puts primacy on piped water supply over other time tested and sustainable sources. Different cities have adopted different coping mechanisms.…”

“…In Kathmandu Valley, the poor who live in marginal areas within the city, especially in the peri-urban areas outside the municipal water supply limits, pay a higher price for buying water from informal sources (Raina 2016). The same is true for residents who rent accommodation even in core city centre-they often do not have guaranteed rights to use the municipal connection, which is reserved for the house owner, and end up paying more than double for water (Molden et al 2016). At the same time, in many Himalayan towns like Kathmandu, urban water security is also closely linked with cultural practice.…”

“…At the same time, in many Himalayan towns like Kathmandu, urban water security is also closely linked with cultural practice. For example, stone spouts which originate in springs, are seen as a form "of cultural resilience, where people interact with water infrastructure in ways that extend beyond utilitarian concerns" (Molden et al 2016). This is true for many other urban centres in the Himalayas where traditional water supply systems embedded in local cultural beliefs have been neglected in favor of western patterns of piped water supply.…”

Scarcity of water or scarcity of management?

“…People ultimately learn how to fill the gap. The situation is well described by my daughter, who studied the situation in depth (Molden, Griffin, & Meehan, 2016;Molden, Khanal, & Pradhan, 2018). Her studies showed the dire consequences of water mismanagement as women, men and recent migrants spend inordinate amounts of time, money and energy on accessing and saving water.…”