Exploring the water resource system and the multi-functionality of drinking water quality of the Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

摘要

The Sagarmatha National Park (SNP), Nepal is regarded as one of the most beautiful mountaintourism sites in the world. Tourism provides the majority of the capital for the SNP, however, theprotected mountain region has experienced negative effects for those capital gains. Corruption andgovernance issues related to the tourism industry in Nepal have resulted in conflicts regardingenvironmental cooperation, skewed caste systems, and poor management of natural resources. Thebasic human rights of the residents and the well being of tourists of the SNP are being infringedupon, as access to clean drinking water is being compromised. This thesis explores the multifunctionalityof drinking water as it relates to basic human rights, governance, and environmentalpolicy in the Sagarmatha National Park.Identifying common drinking water contaminants by assessing the overall drinking waterquality in the SNP was the main objective of this study. The second objective of this study was toestablish a water quality data set which can be used to create a comprehensive map of water qualityfor the Sagarmatha National Park region for future studies. The final objective of this study was toreview the current environmental policy standards in the SNP, comparing them to internationalwater quality standards and identifying any improvements to policy based on the research conducted. Understanding the current governance of the SNP and the effects of tourism on theregion was important in fulfilling this objective. The outcomes of these three objectives arenecessary for providing essential accurate water quality information to the residents of the SNPand the scientific community.A survey of drinking water sources in the SNP was completed to assess bacterialcontamination and its association with tourism. Analysis of fecal coliforms in surface and drinkingwater sources followed standard U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World HealthOrganization (WHO) approved methods. Temperature, pH, conductivity, and total dissolved solids(TDS) were measured in the field on the basis of general drinking water quality standards.Overall, the data we collected presented a predictable correlation between fecal contaminationand both decreasing elevation and increasing population/tourist traffic. Drinking water within thestudy area meets current WHO drinking water standards for temperature (2.8°C - 13°C), pH (5.27- 7.24), conductivity (17.87 μS - 133 μS) and TDS (7.24 ppm - 65.5 ppm). A total 41 samples werecollected for this study: 5 were collected and analyzed for bacteria in May and all tested positivefor E. coli; 5 of the 36 samples collected and analyzed in November also tested positive for E. coli.Samples collected and analyzed in May (pre-monsoon summer) had a higher concentration of E.coli and coliform bacteria than samples collected in November (post-monsoon early winter)suggesting a seasonal dependence. Samples from the more populated, lower altitude, areas hadhigher levels of E. coli as well. Physical parameters measured in the field, temperature, pH, TDSand conductivity, decreased with increasing elevation, and proved poor indicators of watercontamination. The data presented in this thesis clearly indicate a significant presence of bacterial indicatorsof fecal pollution in the surface waters of the Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. The proper balanceof tourism and natural resource management strategies must be a priority as increasing touristnumbers and the influence of climate change will result in poorer drinking water conditions in theSNP.