The State of Arsenic in Nepal - 2003 - Harvard University ...

5.3. Arsenic mitigation measures undertaken
The mitigation of arsenic from drinking water is very
challenging. The cooperation of all stakeholders involved
in this issue is needed to create a national policy on the
mitigation strategies and methods. This national policy
should include water management policies, media campaigns,
health care surveys, evaluation of alternative mitigation
strategies and methods, tube well monitoring programs.
Recent experience in Bangladesh has shown that many
inexpensive mitigation techniques do not work, or do not
perform correctly for a long period of time. Thus, it is
important for water consumers to know what techniques
work to remove arsenic, and for how long. This sub-chapter
presents various important activities required for efficient
arsenic mitigation such as policy and standard developed
by NASC, ongoing research and development, and mapping
of arsenic tested tube wells. In section 5.3.4, several mitigation
measures are described that are currently being used in
southern Nepal.
5.3.1. Policy & Standardization
NASC has been developing different kinds of policies,
procedures, and standards to guide agencies and individuals
that work in arsenic mitigation in drinking water supply. Some
of the important accomplishments are:
• Development of a Nepal’s Interim Guideline for
arsenic investigation and mitigation.
• Creation of a national drinking water quality
standard of 50 ppb arsenic. Water quality up to 50
ppb is considered as safe for cooking and drinking.
• Development of a standard tube well marking
system to alert users about the safeness of water
for cooking and drinking.
• NASC together with RONAST has prepared a
standard sampling and testing protocol for arsenic
testing in laboratories.
• Development of a standard set of information,
education, and communication (IEC) materials to
inform communities about the arsenic problem.
5.3.2. Research & Development
A few research and development activities are being
undertaken by several agencies for developing efficient
mitigation strategy and techniques.
DWSS: Massive testing (blanket test) of about 200,000 tube
wells in eight districts has been undertaken by DWSS in
collaboration with UNICEF. In this survey, two new
approaches have been introduced – implemention of
Arsenator as monitoring tool for field-testing kit and
distribution of Arsenic Testing Certificate to owner of tested
tube well. DWSS, in collaboration with WHO, is also
involving in human resource development in the area of
arsenic epidemiology and research, evaluating the efficiency
of household arsenic removal filters, and is developing a
Nepali version of “Asia Arsenic Network – (AAN)” arsenic
field kit.
ENPHO: This NGO
has been carrying out
different research
programs with its
partner agencies,
including NRCS,
Figure 5.3. ENPHO Arsenic Test Kit
RWSSSP, NEWAH
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),
devoted to the development of arsenic testing equipment,
arsenic removal technologies, health survey and to provide
technical assistance for other researchers and agencies.
Figure 5.2. Painting guideline approved by
NASC for indication of contaminated tube
wells
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DoI: This government line agency has been carrying out
hydrogeological study in collaboration with World Bank and
USGS in Nawalparasi district. It has installed two monitoring
wells in this study area.