STUDY OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS ON WATER RESOURCE: A CASE STUDY FROM SIKLES VILLAGE OF ACAP REGION

Abstract

Climate-induced water related problems are major challenge for mountain communities and little is known on changes and impacts to local people. This paper focuses on climate change issues and its water related consequences to people of Sikles village. Climatic data were collected and analyzed for trend and variability analysis. Water availability was analyzed based on discharge measurement through a volumetric approach and demand was estimated from total population and per capita daily water requirement as prescribed by WHO. Local perception was assessed from household questionnaire survey (n=60). The result showed that average annual maximum and minimum temperature is increasing at the rate of 0.049℃ and 0.006℃ annually. Similarly, annual precipitation is also slightly increasing but in unpredictable pattern whereas number of rainy days is decreasing at 1.123 days per year. Both hot and cold climate extremes and intense rainfall are seen frequently in recent years. Landslide is major water related problem in the area and has more risk due to intense rainfall. Locals perceived that water availability in the sources is decreasing, also current demand and supply analysis in dry period showed there is scarcity of water if collection time concentered only on morning and evening. Water source protection and plantation is most adopted practices to protect water and minimize landslide hazards. Local water use regulation for efficient use of water, development of water storage and distribution system and promotion of green interventions could be important future strategy to face the predicted water related problems in the village.