Local recruitment: Groundwater Modelling Expert (Nepal nationals)

Expertise: Hydrogeology, Ground water, Modelling
Expertise Group: Engineering

Consultant Source: National
TOR Keywords:

Objective and Purpose of the Assignment

Nepal has abundant renewable water resources. The annual rainfall varies from 500 mm/year in some
western areas to more than 4,000 mm/year on the southern slopes of the Himalayan range, with 70-80%
occurring in the summer monsoon and generating runoff to more than 6,000 watercourses. High rainfall
generally gives rise to abundant water supplies, at least seasonally, and surface water and groundwater
are important sources for domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses. Groundwater is abundant in the
Terai and the Kathmandu Valley aquifers, while groundwater is more limited in populated hill regions. In
intra-mountain valleys such as Kathmandu, groundwater occurs in well-defined and sometimes isolated
basins. In contrast, groundwater in the Terai plains south of the Himalayan Mountain ranges forms a part
of the larger system operating in theIndo-Gangetic plains.
Extensive groundwater development for irrigation in the Terai started in the 1960s, and today,
groundwater serves most of the area’s population for drinking and irrigation purposes. Groundwater
development was low-cost and initially did not lead to conflicts. Consequently, abstraction increased
without any specific plan or resource management, gradually leading to stress on the resource.
Today, almost half of Nepal’s population lives in the Terai and depends solely on groundwater for their
drinking needs. There are growing challenges facing groundwater security in the region, including issues
around year-round reliability, increasing instances of water insecurity, and growing concerns over its
quality. Data available on the quality of deep ground-waters in the Terai, show the presence of arsenic
as a major health contaminant apart from the prevalence of iron, manganese, and ammonium.
Given the strategic value of groundwater in the Terai and the significant risks associated with its
contamination and growing water stress, this study aims to support the Ministry of Water Supply, and
other relevant stakeholders in assessing groundwater potential, the risks due to contamination, and to
identify possible short- and medium-term solutions.

The specific objectives of the assignment are to:

1. Assess the current status of groundwater in the Terai region based on available data and field visit
   and observations, including population exposure due to drinking water contamination, identify data gaps
   and requirements, and suggest short-term mitigation measures.
2. Assess the quality and suitability of existing data sources for estimating groundwater contamination
   by arsenic in the Terai region.
3. Validate findings through sampling to identify hotspot districts/areas.
4. In priority areas, conduct a groundwater assessment and management plan based on groundwater uses and
   future requirements.

Scope of Work

The scope of the work shall include but not limited to:
• Review existing reports and documents, including data on drinking water availability and contamination
(specifically on Arsenic concentrations, fecal coliform, etc) available with different agencies and
preparation of preliminary report.
• Mapping of the spatial distribution of tube wells, tube well discharge, and water quality
characteristics, specifically emphasizing arsenic concentration, fecal coliform, etc and groundwater
estimation.
• Draw up a sampling plan and field testing program for existing wells ensuring representativeness at
the ground level and validate the field test results. Review of existing arsenic removal practices.
• Ground water sampling and water quality tests in Government accredited Laboratories. Validation of
water quantity and quality status in priority areas / hot-spots, specifically for cluster of villages
and towns.
• Hydro-geological investigations and pump out tests in diverse geological settings and prepare sub-
surface lithology and water quality tests and monitoring of ground water.
• Development of a (pilot) simulated groundwater numerical flow and transport model, based on available
data.
• Development of ground water management plan (GWMP) for priority areas, emphasizing on water stress,
ground water availability and quality.
• Recommend mitigation measures for arsenic and other contaminants including a program of measures for
the utilization and protection of groundwater resources, with specific recommendations for managing
arsenic contamination (short, mid, and long-term).
• Prepare an investment plan for the medium to long run, including the sustainable development,
management, and restoration/protection of the water sources, based on the local authority’s plans, and
in line with the national sector development plans.
• Undertake consultation and knowledge sharing discussion with Department of Water and Sewerage
Management (DWSSM), Ministry of Water Supply and other stakeholders.

Detailed Tasks and/or Expected Output

The consultant for this position will act as the Ground Water Modelling Expert. The consultant will
carry out, but not limited to the following tasks:

1. To support the development and implementation of a groundwater model for pilot area.
2. Support in the collection of all available data that required for developing ground water model as
   requested by Groundwater Modelling expert and other team experts, facilitate survey and investigations
   together with field engineers and supervise Groundwater Modelling expert (national) and field engineers
   to capture the data requirements.
3. Support national groundwater modelling expert to develop a ground water numerical flow and transport
   model, based on available data and data collected from field investigations.
4. Support in preparation of a detailed report on the simulated ground water model and its application
   on diverse hydro-geological setup.
5. Supervise field investigations, as maybe required to assess the field conditions.
6. Under the Team Leader and team of experts, conduct knowledge sessions on ground water modeling and
   its applications to relevant government officials
7. Other relevant tasks to be decided by the Team Leader and ADB.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Preferably master’s degree in Hydrogeology, Geology, Civil Engineering, Groundwater engineering, Earth
Sciences or related subject. Relevant experience in groundwater assessment, monitoring, field
investigation with modeling experience.

Minimum General Experience: 10 Years
Minimum Specific Experience (relevant to assignment): 7 Years