A plastic-lined dugout pond to store runoff and household waste-water for irrigation purposes during dry periods

Water harvesting technology is very useful in areas where there is limited rainfall for long periods of the year. These dry periods severely limit the growing of crops across Nepal’s middle mountains especially on steep slopes where conventional irrigation can be difficult to arrange. Plastic-lined conservation ponds store water for irrigation more efficiently than the traditional earthen ponds which lose much water to seepage.

The ponds are dug out and the earthen walls lined with high density polyethylene (HDPE) sheet or SILPAULIN (multi-layered, cross laminated, UV stabilised) heavy duty plastic sheeting. The size of the pond will vary depending on the area available and the soil characteristics. The PARDYP project tested and demonstrated plasticlined ponds with a capacity of 8,000-10,000 litres. These ponds were about 3m long, 2m wide and 1.5m deep and were located at shady sites to minimise evaporation losses.

light green: districts in 2007

WOCAT database reference: QT NEP22

Location: Lamdihi, Patalekhet, Chiuribot villages of the Jhikhu Khola watershed, Kabhrepalanchok district, Nepal

Technology area: < 0.1 km²

SWC measure: Structural

Land use: Annual cropping

Climate: Humid subtropical

Related approach: Not described

Compiled by: Madhav Dhakal, ICIMOD

Date: November 2006

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• Plastic-lined conservation pond to store irrigation water