Sep 20, Kathmandu - Kathmandu Metropolitan City has announced plans to test the safety of drinking water used by children, teachers, and staff in community schools. The initiative also includes laboratory testing of water supplies at ward offices and health promotion centers.

Aimed at providing safe drinking water to school children, the city's Health Department has begun training relevant personnel on water sample collection and testing procedures. The training began in Ward No. 1 and will gradually extend to all wards, involving local representatives, ward secretaries, school nurses, teachers, women health volunteers, and water producers and distributors.

Radhika Kuikel, focal person for the water sanitation program under the city's Health Department, stated that trained personnel will collect water samples, and the laboratory tests will determine the water quality. Based on the results, programs to improve water quality will be implemented.

Since children spend a significant part of their day at school, the quality of the drinking water they consume directly impacts their health. The city aims to identify the actual condition of the water through laboratory testing, as water from taps, jars, or other sources may appear clean but may not be safe for drinking.