Water Quality in South Asia: Issues and Status:Proceedings of the Regional Integrated Workshop on Water Quality held from 29 June - 2 July, 2004, in Kathmandu, Nepal

摘要

The Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region is one of the largest storehouses of freshwater in the world, and its mountains are the source of major river systems that serve some 500 million people in South Asia. The theoretical water availability in these rivers is high, however access to clean water remains one of the major challenges for the region. Overall, inland surface water quality in the monsoon season is within tolerable limits with respect to the standards set by the countries concerned, but deteriorates during the dry season. Rapid growth of population, urbanisation, unplanned development, land degradation, and lack of infrastructure for waste disposal are common reasons for the rapid deterioration of water quality in the majority of rivers, streams, and lakes in the region. This poses a threat to both the environment and to people's health.