Abstract:
The Sagarmatha National Park (SNP), Nepal is regarded as one of the most beautiful mountain
tourism sites in the world. Tourism provides the majority of the capital for the SNP, however, the
protected mountain region has experienced negative effects for those capital gains. Corruption and
governance issues related to the tourism industry in Nepal have resulted in conflicts regarding
environmental cooperation, skewed caste systems, and poor management of natural resources. The
basic human rights of the residents and the well being of tourists of the SNP are being infringed
upon, as access to clean drinking water is being compromised. This thesis explores the multifunctionality
of drinking water as it relates to basic human rights, governance, and environmental
policy in the Sagarmatha National Park.
Identifying common drinking water contaminants by assessing the overall drinking water
quality in the SNP was the main objective of this study. The second objective of this study was to
establish a water quality data set which can be used to create a comprehensive map of water quality
for the Sagarmatha National Park region for future studies. The final objective of this study was to
review the current environmental policy standards in the SNP, comparing them to international
water quality standards and identifying any improvements to policy based on the research conducted. Understanding the current governance of the SNP and the effects of tourism on the
region was important in fulfilling this objective. The outcomes of these three objectives are
necessary for providing essential accurate water quality information to the residents of the SNP
and the scientific community.
A survey of drinking water sources in the SNP was completed to assess bacterial
contamination and its association with tourism. Analysis of fecal coliforms in surface and drinking
water sources followed standard U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health
Organization (WHO) approved methods. Temperature, pH, conductivity, and total dissolved solids
(TDS) were measured in the field on the basis of general drinking water quality standards.
Overall, the data we collected presented a predictable correlation between fecal contamination
and both decreasing elevation and increasing population/tourist traffic. Drinking water within the
study area meets current WHO drinking water standards for temperature (2.8°C - 13°C), pH (5.27
- 7.24), conductivity (17.87 μS - 133 μS) and TDS (7.24 ppm - 65.5 ppm). A total 41 samples were
collected for this study: 5 were collected and analyzed for bacteria in May and all tested positive
for E. coli; 5 of the 36 samples collected and analyzed in November also tested positive for E. coli.
Samples collected and analyzed in May (pre-monsoon summer) had a higher concentration of E.
coli and coliform bacteria than samples collected in November (post-monsoon early winter)
suggesting a seasonal dependence. Samples from the more populated, lower altitude, areas had
higher levels of E. coli as well. Physical parameters measured in the field, temperature, pH, TDS
and conductivity, decreased with increasing elevation, and proved poor indicators of water
contamination. The data presented in this thesis clearly indicate a significant presence of bacterial indicators
of fecal pollution in the surface waters of the Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. The proper balance
of tourism and natural resource management strategies must be a priority as increasing tourist
numbers and the influence of climate change will result in poorer drinking water conditions in the
SNP.