KATHMANDU: Experts today warned that the city could face an acute shortage of potable water in the near future if water and its sources were not managed properly.

Talking to 24 participants of the Miss Teen contest, to be organised by Kathmandu Jaycees, about the importance of managing water and preserving its sources, Prakash Amatya, executive director, NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation, said city dwellers need to be aware and cautious about the issue in order to avert a looming crisis. “The main cause of water scarcity today is not inadequate supply but lack of appropriate management,” he said. He suggested that rainwater harvesting could be one of the easiest and reliable ways to minimise the dearth of water in the Valley.

Amatya also informed the participants about ways of harvesting rainwater, its quality and benefits. “Rainwater harvesting is not only a way of addressing increasing demand for water, but also a way to preserve underground sources by recharging them,” he said. Anil Sthapit, director, Guthi, called on the participants to raise public awareness about water management and rainwater harvesting. Chandra Rabi Shrestha, coordinator, Miss Teen Nepal-2009, said the training was beneficial for the participants.