February 28, 2025
THIMPHU – Bhutan, a country with one of the world’s richest freshwater resources, is paradoxically grappling with severe water shortages in many regions. Despite an estimated 80 billion cubic meters of available water, some communities face chronic scarcity.
The problem is not one of supply but of infrastructure, planning, and distribution.
By global standards, Bhutan’s water availability is staggering. A Bhutanese citizen has access to between 90,000 and 100,000 cubic metres of water annually—one of the highest per capita rates in the world. In contrast, the global per capita water availability stands at just 7,000 cubic metres.
Water requirement for citizens in a developing country like Bhutan is 3,033 litres per person per day. For developed countries, it is 3,303 litres per person daily.
This is the guiding principle of water distribution globally. However, some parts of Bhutan are not able to meet this requirement.
According to Thinley Jamtsho, a specialist engineer at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT), who has been dealing with water projects for more than two decades, the water availability in Bhutan is currently around 80 billion cubic metres.
Thinley Jamtsho said that considering the 3,033 liters of daily water required for each Bhutanese, the annual overall water requirement for Bhutan stands at around 1 billion cubic metres, demonstrating that everyone in Bhutan should have a sufficient supply of water.
“Bhutan does not even use one percent of its 80 billion cubic metres of water resource. Bhutan’s existing level of water availability is expected to remain constant for the next 100 to 200 years, although there could be effects due to climate change,” he said.
The 80 billion cubic metres of existing water in the country includes only surface water. “If we include the untapped underground water, the water availability could be enormous,” he said, adding that Bhutan does not have data on groundwater.
According to water experts, the global per capita water availability is 7,000 cubic metres at present. This is comparatively lower than Bhutan’s existing per capita water resources. To reach this level, Bhutan would take another 100 years, that is, by the year 2125, when Bhutan’s population is expected to reach 10 million.
The global threshold for water availability is around 1,700 cubic metres per person. Falling below this threshold results in water sshortage. When water availability drops to 1,000 cubic metres, there will be water scarcity, and at 500 cubic metres, it would be disastrous.
Compared to neighbouring countries, Bhutan is well-endowed with water. Nepal’s per capita water availability is around 8,000 cubic metres—far below Bhutan’s. India, with its massive population, has only 1,700 cubic metres per person.
Mismanagement, not scarcity
So why does a country with so much water still face shortages? The answer lies in poor planning, inadequate infrastructure, and uneven distribution.
Officials said when local governments submit water project plans, approvals are often granted without proper feasibility studies. Without understanding long-term sustainability, catchment areas, and daily consumption needs, many projects fail to provide lasting solutions.
Water distribution is another issue. Some regions are water-rich, while others struggle due to altitude and difficult terrain. Urban areas like Thimphu experience shortages due to unplanned development and rising demand. A single water storage facility often serves multiple households, creating frequent supply gaps.
Unauthorised diversions and private water tapping disrupt fair distribution, leaving some communities dry. Poor infrastructure also leads to massive water losses. Without proper investment in repairs and modernised systems, much of the water is lost before it reaches households.
In addition, the country’s difficult terrain makes it costly to build reservoirs and distribution networks, while budget constraints prevent large-scale water projects from moving forward.
Bhutan has comprehensive water management policies, but enforcement remains weak. The National Integrated Water Resource Management Plan (NIWRMP), developed in 2016, is largely unimplemented despite being recognised under the Water Act of 2011 and the Water Regulation of 2014.
Experts stress that Bhutan must focus on managing its existing surface water efficiently before considering groundwater extraction. There is a need to make substantial investments in water projects, improve infrastructure, and ensure effective watershed management.
Officials said that there is no need to invest in groundwater tapping in Bhutan, as the country has yet to learn how to effectively manage its surface water, which is still abundant.
Officials also emphasisedthat enforcing the NIWRMP and other water regulations will promote sustainable use.
The NIWRMP establishes the principles and mechanisms under which agencies involved in the water sector, together with river basin stakeholders can coordinate their respective plans and activities and collectively monitor progress toward achieving NIWRMP objectives.