Most of the bottled mineral water supplied in most parts of the Nepali capital Kathmandu is unsafe for drinking.According to a study that WETC conducted in 2009, out of 39 samples of bottled mineral water collected from different places in Kathmandu, 28 samples were found to be contaminated with bacteria, viruses and other harmful organisms. "More than 72 percent of the sampled mineral water was found unsafe for drinking," said Gurung, who was a member of the study team.Water is one of the basic human necessities but a large proportion of the Nepalese population is devoid of access to safe and adequate drinking water. According to the Department of Water Supply and Sewerage in Nepal, even though an estimated 80% of the total population has access to drinking water, it is not safe. Those belonging to poor and excluded groups in rural areas have limited to no access. Many in remote areas have to rely on small brooks running from the mountains and spend hours traveling to get water. Still the drinking water available is not always safe as supplied water is often polluted. One of the reasons for this is due to the fact that the surface and ground water in the Kathmandu Valley is deteriorating by natural and anthropogenic contaminations.
