TITLE:
Drinking Water Quality in the Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal
AUTHORS:
Kirsten Nicholson, Emily Hayes, Klaus Neumann, Carolyn Dowling, Subodh Sharma
KEYWORDS:
Fecal Coliform, E. coli, Mt. Everest, Drinking Water
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.4 No.4,
April
22,
2016
ABSTRACT: In 2014
we began the first systematic study of water quality, specifically fecal
contamination of drinking water in the Khumbu Valley, Sagarmatha National Park
(SNP, Mt. Everest region), Nepal. Our goal was to identify coliform bacteria
and E. coli in drinking water and
groundwater-fed springs to generate a data set that will function as a base for
potable water supplies and further monitoring. Sampling occurred in May
(pre-monsoon summer) and early November (post-monsoon early winter) 2014. Sample
sites were selected based on proximity to villages and primary use as a
drinking water source. Overall, the data presented a predictable correlation
between fecal contamination and both elevation and increasing
population/tourist traffic. Drinking water within the study area met current
World Health Organization drinking water standards for the physical properties
of temperature (2.8°C - 13°C), pH (5.27 - 7.24), conductivity (14.5 - 133 mS) and TDS (7.24 - 65.5 ppm).
Samples from the more populated, lower altitude areas had higher levels of E. coli. Samples collected and analyzed
in May (pre-monsoon summer) had a higher level of E. coli and coliform bacteria than samples collected in November
(post-monsoon early winter) suggesting a seasonal dependence overlaid on the
population signature. Surface water typically had higher E. coli values than groundwater-fed springs. Temperature, total
dissolved solids and conductivity generally decreased with increasing
elevation, whereas pH increased with increasing elevation. There appears to be
significant presence of fecal contamination of water sources due to a
combination of tourism, elevation and seasons.