The Phortse Water Project was successfully completed in 2022 and officially opened by the Australian Ambassador to Nepal.
Jointly funded by Khumbu
Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Terry Trevino piping and Rotary it has provided a reliable source of clean water to the village and been used as a model project for other high altitude Nepalese villages.
Phortse is located at approx 4000m above sea level, in SoluKhumbu District of Nepal.
Access to clean running water was considered a luxury. Villagers walked hours to fetch fresh water to fulfill their basic needs and to get their economy running.
A 6 km hand-dug deep trench was required to bury the supply pipes to protect them from freezing during the winters.
The water supply has enabled women to contribute economically to the village - instead of spending hours queueing and carrying enough water to the village for the families and the trekkers on their way to Everest Base Camp. The village now also has an emergency water supply for firefighting.
The Phortse project directedly provided clean water to 111 households.
Better water supply does not only mean better health and sanitation but also means improved economy, education, and empowered women.
