Project: Preparation of Standard/Manual for Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Small-scale Multipurpose Reservoir

Client: Department of Water Resources and Irrigation

Year: 2025

Status: Completed

The primary objective of the consultancy was to develop a comprehensive and practical manual for the construction, operation, and maintenance of small-scale multipurpose reservoirs, focusing on earth embankments and pond systems relevant to Nepal’s rural and resource-sensitive context. The major tasks accomplished by GEOINFRA under this assignment included:

• Extensive literature review and adaptation of international and national guidelines for small-scale reservoir development.
• Definition of reservoir typologies and development of simplified design parameters tailored to Nepal’s diverse topography and hydrological conditions.
• Preparation of frameworks for site selection, including participatory assessment tools and water storage estimation methods.
• Development of practical, step-by-step construction guidelines using local materials and labor-based techniques.
• Drafting of easy-to-follow operation and maintenance (O&M) protocols with seasonal maintenance schedules, local monitoring tools, and safety considerations.
• Incorporation of community participation models, institutional roles, and capacity-building outlines.
• Integration of ecological, environmental, and tourism aspects into reservoir planning and management.
• Delivery of draft and final versions of the manual, supported by illustrations, templates, field tools, and a client seminar.