The third batch of Nepal Sanitation Tour was successfully held with the participation of delegation from Bangladesh to explore the diverse sanitation initiatives in Nepal. Organized from February 10–14, the tour provided a platform for knowledge exchange and first hand experience of sanitation initiatives.

Participants of Nepal Sanitation Tour 2025

The event brought together representatives from Bangladesh’s Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE), relevant ministries, and municipalities. The tour was organized by International Training Network Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (ITN-BUET) and facilitated by the Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO). The tour provided a comprehensive insight into impactful sanitation initiatives, technologies, practices, and strategies that are advancing progress in the sector.

The continuation of the Nepal Sanitation Tour for international participants underscores Nepal’s growing role in sharing its sanitation initiatives and advancements, across border. The sustained interest in the program highlights its value in fostering regional cooperation and learning.

During the 3-day visit, the delegation explored various sanitation initiatives, including the mentor cities: Mahalaxmi and Waling, a small-scale fecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP) demonstration site, a public toilet managed through a public-private partnership (PPP) model, and a hotel equipped with an in-house wastewater treatment system.

With sanitation emerging as a crucial sector for sustainable urban development, Nepal’s experience serves as a valuable reference for other countries striving to enhance their sanitation infrastructure and policies.

Tour kick-off

The tour began with a meet and greet session, where participants were warmly welcomed by Mr. Ash Kumar Khaitu, Program Manager at ENPHO. This introductory session outlined the objectives and schedule of the event that provided a clear understanding of the tour’s purpose.

During the introductory session by Mr. Rajendra Shrestha

Following this, Mr. Rajendra Shrestha, Program Director at ENPHO, delivered a detailed presentation on Nepal’s sanitation landscape. He highlighted the similarities between Nepal and Bangladesh in terms of sanitation challenges and introduced the Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) approach. This briefing helped participants to better analyze the sanitation initiatives and facilities they would be visiting throughout the tour.

Mahalaxmi Municipality: A Mentor City

The very first site of the tour was Mahalaxmi Municipality, one of mentor cities of Nepal for sanitation. The visit began with a formal sharing session at the municipality office, where Mr.  Hari Govinda Shrestha, Mayor of the Municipality warmly welcomed all the participants. Following this, Mr. Suban Maharjan, an engineer at the municipality, provided an in-depth presentation on Mahalaxmi’s journey to becoming a mentor city.

Exchange of Token of Love at Mahalaxmi Municipality

The presentation also introduced the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based sanitation app, which helps track household toilets and septic tanks, ensuring accurate and up-to-date records. Additionally, he highlighted the Integrated Municipal Information System (IMIS), a tool that enables real-time data availability to enhance the efficiency of sanitation services. Further, he discussed the municipality’s efforts in standardizing septic tanks to improve sanitation infrastructure and emphasized capacity-building activities aimed at strengthening the skills and knowledge of key stakeholders. A significant milestone shared during the session was the revival of the Lubhu Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant (FSTP), an essential facility for effective faecal sludge management in the municipality.

Exploring Lubhu FSTP: Recovering the resources

The group toured Lubhu FSTP, a demonstration site for small-scale faecal sludge management. Mr. Udaya Nepali, Chairman of Help for Children, provided an overview of the facility, while Engineer Debendra Shrestha from ENPHO elaborated on its operation. He explained how the system functions, including waste transportation, biogas digestion, gravel filtration, and routine water quality testing. These measures ensure the facility’s efficiency while also maximizing the beneficial use of by-products such as biogas, treated water, and compost.

During visit at FSTP Lubhu

Aerosan Public Toilet setting examples of inclusivity

Another noteworthy site on the tour was the Aerosan Public Toilet, managed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Facilitation led by Program Manager Ms. Archana Shrestha, participants explored the facility’s inclusive design, which serves all users, including women, children and differently abled people. The visit also highlighted the toilet’s innovative approach to financial and environmental sustainability. This facility showcased how public infrastructure can effectively combine profitability with community service, encouraging participants to consider implementing similar models in their own cities.

Ms. Archana Shrestha explaining about Aerosan and its operation

 

Guheshwori Wastewater Treatment Plant: Exploring the urban wastewater management

The final site visit on the first day was the Guheshwori wastewater treatment plant, the largest facility of its kind in Kathmandu. The visit provided the participants with a comprehensive understanding of the plant’s operation, including detailed information about its various components, functioning and systems. The site emphasized the importance of large-scale wastewater management in urban settings, showcasing the plant’s capabilities in handling and treating large volumes of wastewater to protect public health and the environment.

Participants exploring the functioning process of wastewater treatment plant

During the visit, Engineer Pravat K.C. from the Project Implementation Directorate (PID) delivered a brief presentation on the plant’s operations. He outlined essential aspects such as the treatment process, technological components, capacity, coverage, environmental benefits, as well as the challenges in wastewater management. The session also included a guided tour of the facility, allowing participants to gain firsthand insights into its functioning.

Waling Municipality: Demonstrating accountability

On the second day of the tour, the team visited Waling Municipality, where they were warmly welcomed by the Deputy Mayor, Ms. Kabita Gaire Tiwari, amidst a formal program. Mr. Dhurba Regmi, the sanitation focal person for the municipality, shared Waling’s remarkable journey toward becoming a mentor city in sanitation. His presentation highlighted the city’s key initiatives, strategies, and community-driven approaches that contributed to this achievement. Ms. Tiwari also shared insights from her visit to Bangladesh, emphasizing the valuable lessons she gained and the importance of cross-learning visits for adapting and replicating successful sanitation practices.

Mr. Dhurba Regmi sharing a presentation on the sanitation journey of municipality

After the session, the group toured the Waling Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant, an important site showcasing the city’s dedication to waste management. Mr. Mani Prasad Regmi, the administrative officer, provided a detailed explanation of the treatment processes, covering the steps involved in managing faecal sludge and ensuring safe, efficient waste treatment.

Waterfront Resort’s DEWATS: A Model for Sustainable Wastewater Management

The final site of the Sanitation Tour was Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS) at Waterfront Resort, which was constructed with the technical support of UN-Habitat. Here, the participants explored the resort’s wastewater management practice, which has been in place since its inception.

Participants exploring the DEWATS system at Waterfront Resort

The visit demonstrated the sustainable operational aspects of the treatment system within the hotel, highlighting the significance of integrating wastewater management for environmental safety. The system serves as a replicable model for other facilities, especially those with high public traffic. Participants gained valuable insights into its functionality, operation, and maintenance.

Reflection session

At the end of the tour, a reflection session was conducted providing the participants with an opportunity to share their insights and experiences gained throughout the visit. This session was organized through a group activity, where they note down their key takeaways, the challenges, and feedback on the various sites visited. The session wrapped up with participants expressing their gratitude for the tour, highlighting how it offered valuable hands-on knowledge.  Participants also committed to applying the lessons learned during the tour in their respective contexts, ensuring that the knowledge gained would be used to improve sanitation practices wherever feasible.

Sharing of learnings, challenges and feedback during reflection session

Voice from the participant

“Nepal Sanitation Tour 2025 has been an opportunity that has allowed me to gain valuable insights from four cities and private sector initiatives, while experiencing Nepal’s natural beauty, rich culture, and the warm hospitality. Engaging with the Mahalaxmi Executive Board gave me useful perspectives on urban sanitation governance, and visits to the Lubhu and Waling FSTPs showcased innovative waste management practices. The Aerosan Public Toilet highlighted inclusive, gender-sensitive sanitation solutions, and the Guheswori Wastewater Treatment Plant demonstrated the importance of large-scale wastewater management in protecting the Bagmati River. Finally, the Waterfront DEWATS in Pokhara illustrated the effectiveness of decentralized wastewater treatment. Beyond these technical learnings, building relationships with municipalities and DPHE officials will be crucial for future collaboration and strengthening the implementation of our project. I strongly recommend organizing more such exposure visits to promote knowledge sharing and inspire sanitation pioneers through the successful initiatives seen in neighboring countries.”

Dilruba Farzana

Deputy Project Director, 10 Towns Project, DPHE

 

As Nepal’s sanitation system evolves, alongside the broader progress being made in South Asia and globally, organizing cross-border learning and sharing visits offers valuable opportunities for regional and global stakeholders to explore a wide range of sanitation initiatives. These visits provide a platform to observe and understand effective practices, with the hope that successful initiatives can be replicated in other regions, as per feasibility. By hosting events like sanitour, Nepal can facilitate meaningful knowledge exchange, showcasing its initiatives and achievements in sanitation. This helps demonstrate Nepal’s commitment to improving sanitation and contributes to global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for clean water and sanitation.