Water scarcity in water rich Bhutan.
According to the National Health Survey 2012, the proportion of Bhutan’s population with access to improved drinking water source is 97.7 percent.
However, in some rural parts of our country, people have to depend on rainwater for both drinking and irrigation.
Assessment of rural drinking water quality carried out by the Royal Centre for Disease Control in 2012 showed that only 17 percent of stream water sources and 28 percent of spring water sources were safe for use as drinking water.
Assurance of safe drinking water is still a major challenge in Bhutan.
The residents of Laptsakha village in Punakha, Shumar, Gamung and Gonpung in Pemagatshel, Phangyul in Wangdue, and Kengkhar in Mongar are facing acute shortage of water.
According to a study done by Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conversation and Environment Research, climate change, in addition to increasing anthropogenic activities, could impact both quality and quantity of water because climate change in the region is occurring at a greater speed than elsewhere.
Going by a more recent rural water supply inventory, about 13,732 rural households across the country are facing drinking water problem.
When there is no water to drink and to farm, people from villages will be forced to migrate.
Citizens of the country with rich water resource cannot go begging for water to drink.