A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EFFECTS OF IMPROPER WASTE DISPOSAL ON THE GROUNDWATER/POTABLE WATER SYSTEMS ALONG THE BASE CAMP HIGHWAY OF MT. EVEREST

Thousands of trekkers and tourists visit the Mt. Everest region of Nepal every year in hopes of making it to Base Camp or to the peak of Mt. Everest. Despite the Sagarmatha National Park (Mt Everest region, Nepal) being a world heritage site, these tourists leave behind waste and garbage of all forms. The people of Nepal lack the technology and resources to dispose of this waste properly and safely; therefore, improper waste disposal has become a very serious issue in the Himalayas. Currently, over 12 metric tons of human waste per year is being carried downhill from the base camps and dumped at lower elevations into open unlined pits. The geographical setting of the area also plays a large role in proper waste disposal. At the higher elevations, the annual ground temperatures are too low, causing a problem for proper anaerobic decomposition of organic matter to take place. We will attempt to help identify and solve the environmental (and cultural) problems around waste disposal and water quality.

Our project will focus specifically on fecal matter in water by analyzing water samples for coliform bacteria. This research is significant because it will be the first study of its kind in the Everest region, and will be one of few studies, which addresses fecal contamination at such high altitudes. Our results should also help to identify areas of high waste accumulation/contamination down-stream of Gorak Shep and Mt. Everest Base Camp.

Fieldwork will begin in 2014 and will take place over 4 weeks. Sampling will begin immediately and will continue every other day, alternating with days dedicated to analyses (i.e. 18-24 hour incubation and samples must be analyzed within 30 hours of collection). The results of our research will be used to correlate a map of water contamination with contaminated sites, which could be then used to initiate sanitation and prevent further waste disposal problems for the people of the region.