Report by Yash Man Karmacharya, CIUD July 2011, Lalitpur: We have now our own supply of water. The recharge project has greatly helped us in replenishing the dug well explainedAsha Kaji Shrestha, a member of Nyhakha Chuka Tole Sudhar Samiti at ward no. 16 in Lalitpur. The two recharge wells and two storm water collection chambers constructed in the court yard has helped to maintain the water table of the traditional wells. Now the community is managing the water supply for 250 households within the Nyakha Chuka and its surroundings. The user committee members have been active in the supply and management of the system. Gone are the days when we have to quarrel with the city water supply office for inadequate water supply. Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) has never been able to fix its water distribution in the community. Recharging our own land during rainfall gave us sufficient water to extract. It did not only serve us in this crisis but also fulfilled the demand of our neighboring community. We have now eight hours water supply in a day shares Mr. Shrestha with delight to the delegates of Coca-Cola and UN Habitat that visited on 4th July. Under the project “Rainwater Harvesting and Groundwater Recharge in Patan”, Center for Integrated Urban Development (CIUD) constructed 16 recharge wells and 21 rainwater collection chambers to replenish the underground aquifer to support 20 different committees in Lalitpur in coordination with Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City (LSMC) and Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board (KVWSMB). You cannot stop yourself thanking UN-HABITAT, Coca Cola – The Bottlers Nepal Limited (BNL) and Bentley University for its financial support to this project when you are yourself at Nyakha Chuka, hiding away from the noisy streets of Patan, a medieval settlement of Newar community welcomes you with a soothing garden embedded with the rainwater recharge pits in the courtyard