Treatment of Drinking Water

According to Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2022, 98% of households in Nepal has access to basic drinking water services₁.

However, unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and suboptimal handwashing practices have significant impact on the health and nutrition of children in Nepal, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality. Diarrhea alone accounts for 15.3% of mortality among children aged 1 to 59 months.

Source: 1) Water for the World Country Plan; 2020.

Appropriate Treatment of Drinking Water in Households With Children Under two Years by Equity Quintile

Between 2017 and 2022, both the lowest and highest equity quintile experienced a significant increase of 11 percentage points in the prevalence of appropriate treatment of drinking water in households with children under two.

Appropriate Treatment of Drinking Water in Households With Children under two Years by Caste/Ethnicity

Between 2017 and 2022, marginalized communities, as well as Brahmin and Chhetri communities, witnessed a significant increase in the prevalence of access to appropriate drinking water treatment. However, the rate of improvement was higher among the Brahmin and Chhetri communities, showing a remarkable 20 percentage point increase compared to the marginalized communities, which had a 15 percentage point increase. Consequently, the gaps between these two groups have widened.

Appropriate Treatment of Drinking Water in Households With Children under two Years by Agro-Ecological Zones

All three agro-ecological zones have shown significant progress in increasing the prevalence of appropriate treatment of drinking water in households. The hill region exhibited the most substantial improvement, with a remarkable 21 percentage point increase, while the terai region had the lowest improvement at 9 percentage points. Moreover, the mountain region experienced a higher rate of increase compared to the terai region.

15%

2017

49%

2022

34 percentage points increase in the number of mothers of children under two meeting Suaahara’s frontline workers

12%

2017

50%

2022

38 percentage points increase in the number of mothers of children under two participating in Suaahara’s community activities