A team from The Small Earth Nepal (SEN) visited the fog water harvesting system installed at Meheyle, Ward No. 5, Khijidema Rural Municipality, Okhaldhunga from 15-20 June 2026, under the project “Empowering Mountain Communities through Fog Harvesting for Sustainable Water Management,” supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) Small Grants, Germany. Assisted on-site by Mr. Dawa Tshring Sherpa, Field Assistant, the team assessed the technical setup and operational functionality of the fog water harvesting system which aligned with project quality standards. Results of preliminary water quality parameters indicated that the harvested water holds potential as an alternative source of water, but it requires further treatment for safe drinking.
In conversations with local residents, the team learned that existing water sources are located far from the settlement, and piping water over long distances involves high maintenance and operation costs that are difficult for them to sustain. Households in parts of Khiji Phalatey continue to face drinking water shortages, with access remaining uneven. The availability of a locally harvestable source like fog water was seen as a meaningful step toward reducing that burden by the residents.
The SEN team met Mr. Gombu Sherpa, Chairperson, Khijidemba Rural Municipality, Ward No. 5 and representatives from four other wards discussed the system’s long-term sustainability. The response was strongly positive, with Mr. Sherpa describing the initiative as a timely intervention for communities facing chronic water stress. The representatives committed to forming Water Users Groups with inclusive representation and to integrate the system’s oversight into ward and municipal planning to ensure the projects sustainability. Given the simplicity and low cost of the technology, routine maintenance will be managed locally by the municipality.
Additionally, Mr. Sherpa emphasized the site’s potential for replicating such measures in other municipalities facing similar challenges. He mentioned that the site can serve as research and learning hub for students and researchers.
