"Striving for Sustainability: Tackling Water Scarcity and Air Pollution in

Urban Environments"
Riyaz Pudasaini 1*

Department of Civil Engineering, Himalaya College of Engineering, Chyasal, Lalitpur, Nepal

* Corresponding authors: riyazpudasaini96@gmail.com

Introduction:
Water shortage and air pollution are two important environmental issues that threaten the
wellbeing and sustainability of metropolitan places around the world. The demand for clean
water and the emission of pollutants into the air have reached worrying levels as urban
populations continue to rise and industrial activity escalate. These challenges have far-reaching
consequences for human health, environmental stability, and the overall quality of life in cities.
Water shortage, defined as the paucity of freshwater supplies to meet human and ecological
needs, has become a major concern in Kathmandu city. This challenge is being exacerbated by
rapid urbanization, ineffective water management techniques, climate change, and population
increase. As a result, Kathmandu is dealing with insufficient water supply, decreased water
quality, and rising water costs. The study found that the decline in water yield in highly
urbanized regions is caused by extensive construction activities in recharge ponds and the over-
extraction of water from wells. The Land Use Land Cover (LULC) change analysis shows that
the built-up area has increased by 4.156 km2 between 2000 and 2019 and the rainfall has
declined at the rate as high as 13.1 mm/year. The increased impermeable land surface may have
reduced the infiltration rate of rainfall and thus affecting the recharge of aquifers that supply
water. The decrease in rainfall may have further exacerbated the condition

Figure: Location map (top- left); Land use land cover change map for Kathmandu district

Problem statement:
 i) Scarcity of water in Kathmandu district due to low rainfall
ii) Ground water sources like “DHUGE DHARA”, having historical importance are in
phase of extinction due to less ground water recharge
iii) Increase amount of carbon dioxide and other harmful chemical in air around the
district
iv) iv) Problem of heavy smog around the city has ruined the aesthetic view of city.
Possible solution:
• Water scarcity and ground water recharge:
Parks with permeable surfaces, such as grass and soil, can allow rainfall and runoff to
infiltrate into the ground, replenishing groundwater reserves. This process contributes
to groundwater recharge, maintaining water availability in aquifers and supporting
sustainable water resources. As water percolates through the soil layers in parks, it
undergoes natural filtration and purification processes. The soil acts as a filter,
removing certain pollutants and contaminants, improving the quality of infiltrated
water.

• Air quality degradation:

The presence of parks can help to enhance air quality in numerous ways:
Park trees and flora may absorb pollutants from the air, such as carbon dioxide (CO2),
nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter (PM). Plants absorb CO2 and release
oxygen through photosynthesis, which helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
improve air quality. Park trees and vegetation operate as natural filters, capturing and
decreasing airborne particles such as dust, pollen, and soot. This filtering process
assists in the removal of contaminants from the air, resulting in cleaner and healthier
air quality. Parks, with their lush foliage, provide a substantial amount of oxygen.
Plants create oxygen through photosynthesis, which contributes to greater oxygen
levels in the atmosphere.
Developing a community park with different types of vegetation can be more economical and
increase the aesthetic view of Kathmandu valley.