WATER AND SANITATION DIVISION
- National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy, 2020
The MoWHs & MoH initiated to develop an inclusive and holistic NSHP which will cater to rural, peri urban and urban areas in Bhutan. The main objective is to provide clear policy direction to sanitation and hygiene sector.
The objective of the policy
- Achieve universal coverage and access to sustainable services for all.
- Adopt appropriate technology for sustainable sanitation systems.
- Develop sustainable and efficient financing mechanism for safe sanitation and hygiene services.
- Strengthen capabilities including Behavior Change Communication at all levels.
- Institutionalize mechanism for effective and efficient coordination and service delivery.
- Inclusive and Climate Resilient Guideline for Rural Water Supply Service, January 2025
One of the approaches in terms of response to climate change impact is through adoption of adaptation and mitigation measures by considering resilience and inclusive aspects in infrastructure planning, designs and water service-related programs. There is a need to incorporate climate resilient aspects in the prevailing designs and construction practices as a result of which the guideline is required to be developed.
This guideline aims to enable the designers and implementers to integrate climate resilience features during the process of planning, designs and implementation to make the water infrastructure or facilities more robust and resilient.
- Climate Resilient Rural Water Safety Plan facilitator’s Guide, December 2024
The CRRWSP facilitator’s guide has been developed to support the long term sustainability of the rural water supply systems , especially in the context of climate change. One of the key components of this guide is ownership building , which encourages local communities to take responsiblities and accountability for managing and protecting their water resources from source to the consumer point. This guide also provides a structural approach for the facilitators to help form WUA, a key mechanism for promoting ownership and ensuring effective water resource and water scheme management .
- Climate Resilient and Inclusive Rural Water Caretaker’s Manual, December 2024
While the construction of water supply scheme has made significant progress with over 98.9 % of households now having access to basic safe drinking water, challenges remain, particularly in the areas of management, operation and maintenance which are critical for long term sustainability of these schemes. Report indicates that many rural water supply schemes lack water caretakers and many water sources are drying up.
To ensure sustainability of the scheme, it is critical to equip village water caretaker with knowledge and skills necessary for effective management, operation and maintenance, including nature based water source management. It provides a comprehensive framework for training caretakers in water supply scheme management.
- Last Mile and Post ODF Strategy,2020
The programme has achieved a great deal in increasing access to improved toilets and ODF status. However, there are still 5 to 10 per cent of households who have not build their toilets. On the other hand, there are other emerging issues that needs to be addressed in the ODF communities. Sustaining the ODF status and other hygiene and sanitation behavioral change related issues of hygienic usage, operation and maintenance, creating access for person living with disabilities, menstrual hygiene management, handwashing with soap and fecal sludge management needs to be considered. Hence, a clear strategy for Leave No One Behind and Post ODF was necessary
Last mile objective
Achieving ODF and 100% improved sanitation coverage in remaining gewogs by
- supporting the households who are unable to construct, access or maintain a toilet for themselves
- facilitating/convincing the households who are not interested or willing to construct
Post ODF objective
- Support household/communities/institutions to climb the sanitation ladder to progressively achieve “Safely Managed” status in line with SDGs.
- Sustain the sanitation status achieved, accessible toilet for PWDs, maintenance and hygienic usage of toilets, HWWS, MHM and safe management of faecal sludge.
- Guideline for Faecal Sludge Management for Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Programme,2019
This guideline was developed to provide basic technical guidance to the relevant agencies and community responsible for implementing projects in rural communities, schools, nunneries, healthcare facilities, monastic institutions and public gatherings including during emergencies in the country towards ensuring safe management of human excreta and environmentally safe and technologically appropriate management systems.
- B-WASH cluster Governing Document, 2016 – A national partnership to achieve universal access to safe and adequate water, sanitation and hygiene facilities
Institutional set up exists but it is not robust enough. There are challenges regarding coordination as there is no single entity responsible for coordinating the Water, Sanitation & Hygiene sector. Harmonization of efforts is necessary to avoid duplication, optimum utilization of resources and to achieve national, regional and SDGs WASH sector.
To harmonize the approach, WASH consultation forum was arranged with diverse participation and to seek wider consensus among the stakeholders for effective coordination and collaboration
The Objective of the forum is to :
- To provide platform for inclusive and participatory collaboration and coordination amongst the stakeholders to address the WASH issues.
- To provide a common forum for exchange of knowledge, information & expertise.
- To guide and facilitate optimal utilization of available WASH resources
- To facilitate harmonization of data collection and management towards achieving the national, regional and international(SDG) commitments
- To facilitate advocacy and /sensitization of WASH issues with special focus on children, women, elderly, monks & nuns and PLWDs at all level.
- To prepare and guide the WASH emergency response plan.
- Sanitation and Hygiene Guidelines, 2014
Based on field experiences and current understanding of the country’s development situation, this guideline is intended to provide basic technical guidance to the relevant agencies responsible for the development and implementation of WASH programs and projects particularly in rural communities, schools, nunneries and monastic institutions including public gatherings in the country.
The objectives of this guideline are to provide guidance to:
- All the stakeholders in planning, designing, implementation, management and monitoring of the water, improved sanitation and hygiene facilities
- Ensure access to sustainable, adequate, safe and affordable water and sanitation services and adoption of safe hygiene practices.
Guideline for Inclusive and CRRWS Services, 2024
Guidelines for FSM for RSAHP Bhutan, 2019
Sanitation and Hygiene Guidelines, 2014
National Sanitation and Hygiene Policy, 2020_final
Last mile and Post ODF_Strategy,2020
Water_Caretaker Trainer’s Manual_Final
letter – WASH Documents to all 20 Dzongkhags and Thromdes
National Guideline for Sanitation Technology 2023
The National Guideline for Sanitation Technology 2023 was developed with an objective to assist in selecting the best solutions for on and off-site sewage management technology and to provide quick guidance to sanitation planners, Thromde/Dzongkhag Engineers. The current practice of sewage management systems, septic tanks, transport, and disposal of sludge in Dzongkhag Thromdes (district municipalities) is a major concern due to the absence of guidelines and standards for sanitation technology options.
National Guideline for Sanitation Technology 2023
Guidance for making toilets and handwashing easier to access to All in Rural Bhutan
As per the Assessment of toilets in the rural communities, most of the present improved toilet structures and pathways to toilets failed to take into consideration the needs of persons with disabilities. A key factor of inaccessible toilets is due to inadequate knowledge and lack of appropriate local solution options in building and enhancing accessible toilets in the communities. This document aims to provide guidance to households in identifying and developing locally appropriate solutions for people who have difficulty accessing toilets and handwashing at home.
Guidance for making toilets and handwashing easier to access for ALL in rural Bhutan
Standard Operating Procedures(SOP) for Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) in Emergencies-Bhutan
National Public Toilet Guidelines:
Septic System Manual:
The ‘Septic System Manual’ was developed by the Urban Infrastructure Service Division (UISD), Department of Engineering Services (DES) under the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement (MoWHS) with technical assistance from SNV as part of the Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene Programme in small towns.The manual was developed with the objective of providing guidance to authorities at various levels (district and municipal engineers, building inspectors) on technical know-how during the design, construction, operation and maintenance of septic systems. In addition, other communication materials such as leaflets and posters were developed targeting householders/building owners to help understand operation & maintenance of septic systems, including de-sludging of the septic tanks. The septic system manual, leaflet and poster was developed and tested based on learning from the small towns at Chukha Dzongkhag and Thimphu Thromdey. For more details, please download using the following link: (Please note: some of the files are larger then 10mb in size and it will take time to download it. please be patience with the speed of the download.)
- Septic System Manual
- Leaflet without Thimphu Thromdey
- Leaflet with Thimphu Thromdey
- Poster Dzongkha
- Poster English
- Poster Dzongkha with Thimphu Thromdey
- Poster English with Thimphu Thromdey
Why Energy Efficient Building?
