After witnessing prolonged dry spell that aggravated the drinking water shortage inside the Kathmandu Valley, the local communities have come together to revive the wells and water spouts.

On Friday, local communities in different parts of the Valley observed Sithi Nakha, a Newari festival dedicated to cleaning up traditional wells, water spouts and water sources.

“We have received favourable pre-monsoon rains in the past few weeks. And with the monsoon rains expected to be normal, this clean-up campaign will help recharge the underground sources as well as contribute to rainwater harvesting practiced in some places of Lalitpur,” said Rabin Manandhar, one of the participants from Patandhoka, Lalitpur.

Liwali Ganesh Earthquake Affected Support Committee in Bhaktapur also organised a clean-up campaign on the occasion of Sithi Nakha.

Narayan Khaitu, the committee chairperson, said they are also installing a large-scale rainwater harvesting system with the assistance of Water Alliance International to deal with the perennial problem of water scarcity in the area.

According to a study conducted by the NGO, Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation, in 2008, there are 389 stone spouts inside the Valley; 96 of them are in Kathmandu. The study also found that 113 stone spouts are not functioning.

Similarly, a research conducted by Govinda Poudel, which was published in the journal of the Institute of Engineering in 2011, states that stone spouts in Lalitpur can fulfil 27 percent of the daily water demand in the district, if preserved and managed properly.