About the school
In July 2024, Anandakuti Vidyapeeth installed Smart Paani’s water filter and rainwater harvesting systems. In just over a year, the school has seen many positive outcomes as a direct result of the installation. Located at Manjushree Hill in the heart of Swayambhu, Anandakuti Vidyapeeth was established in 1952. A community school, managed by the Anandakuti Public Education Trust, every rupee that can be saved matters for the school, especially if the saving could be generated by reusing something that is going to waste—rainwater.
Water: A Basic Right and a Basic Struggle
Article 35 of the Constitution of Nepal 2072 states that every citizen has the right to clean and safe drinking water. Yet, access to clean and safe drinking water remains a challenge, even in the capital city of Nepal. Anandakuti was also struggling with the same problem. Their water supply was previously sent by the Swyambhu Mahaghuti, but as the number of students fell, the supply became difficult to manage. As a result, the school began purchasing water tankers to meet its water requirements. Every month, around 1-2 water tankers, along with 20 water jars for drinking water purposes, were being purchased. Adding up the cost of water tankers and water jars, the school was spending at least Rs. 5000 per month just to meet their basic water needs.
Dependency on water tankers reduced
With partial financial help from Rabindra Shakya, an alum of the school, and the remaining funds from SmartPaani’s partner Dopper, the water filters were installed in 2024. Since then, the school has been able to drastically reduce its tanker purchases. The school principal, Mr. Sagendra Shrestha, mentioned that it is only during dry winter seasons that there is some need to purchase water tankers. But the school has already extended its water reservoir and plans to expand it further so that the dependency on tankers, even during the dry season, is lessened.
How the system works
The terrace of the administrative block of the school is used as the water collection point. As rainwater falls and is collected on the terrace, the collected water is then directed towards the Smart Paani rapid sand filter, which is also the first level of filtration in the system that removes most of the physical impurities. The water is then stored in the reservoir tanks. At the drinking water spot, the water passes through the Smart Paani Biosand filter and then a UV filter that kills any remaining bacteria and parasites that are not visible to the eye. There are currently two drinking water stations at the school. The system has made it much easier for students to access water, especially during the summer seasons when water consumption is higher.
Customization is crucial
The Smart Paani team ensures that the system is customized according to the needs of the location and environment. Anandakuti is located in an area highly populated by monkeys. This required the system to be modified to avoid any damage and disruption that might be caused by monkey attacks. Environmental factors were considered right from the initial planning of the system to avoid additional costs later on.
Indirect benefits
Apart from reducing the financial burden of buying tankers and water jars, and providing easy access to water for students, there are additional indirect benefits of installing the system.
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- From waste to resource: Rainwater is, in a literal sense, a waste. Turning that waste into drinkable water is a sustainable and eco-friendly way of utilizing resources. By managing rainwater on site for reuse, the school also helps reduce flooding risks.
- Students learn about sustainability: Reusing rainwater teaches students about how sustainability works. They learn about innovative ways in which technology can touch their lives while also caring for the environment.
- Pollution and emissions reduction: By significantly reducing the need for water tankers and eliminating the need for jar water purchases, the pollution from delivering water is avoided. Similarly, the plastic waste from jar caps and eventual jar disposal is reduced.
Anandakuti is a good example of how investing in a water system by SmartPaani that reuses a readily available resource like rainwater can solve the ongoing issue of drinking water. The school was falling short of its water requirements with mounting budget pressure, which has now been resolved. Not only are they easily meeting their water needs, but they are also able to do so at a reasonable cost in an environmentally friendly manner, as the next generation learns about sustainable use of resources. The school is confident that the system will last for a long time, and with regular check-ins and maintenance service from the Smart Paani team, the quality of the system is assured.