Drained by 2 rivers, the municipality is rich in the surface water and it also receives rainfall intensity of 2.6m/year and rainfall of 2626 mm annually. Unable to supply adequate water to the city dwellers due to dependency upon surface water and ground water, the city is suffering from water scarcity throughout the year. Nepal Water Supply Corporation (NWSC) the only government body responsible for water supply to the city dwellers has been able to supply only 10.9 MLD (Dry Season)  and 13 MLD (Wet season) out of demanded 15.4 MLD. To supply the water NWSC abstracts water from Sardu Khola, and Khardu Khola while it also extracts groundwater from 3 deep boring. Remaining water is being supplied by the tanker suppliers meanwhile very few houses have adapted Rainwater Harvesting System (RWHS). It is a tragedy that despite of huge potentiality of RWH in the municipality NWSC has not aggressively promoted RWH in the municipality which could reduce the pressure on existing city supply.

Despite such shortage of water and municipalities effort to promote Rainwater Harvesting through leverage in building construction permission fees, very few houses are adapting RWH in their home. ?People are not convinced that RW is drinkable hence they do not adapt RWH system,? says Mr. Suraj Shrestha- Senior Engineer at Dharan Municipality. However people are not aware of the quality of drinking water supplied by NWSC as a result the lab which should be maintained by NWSC does not function due to lack of concern from both government and the people.

The main problem of promoting RWH harvesting is the perception on Rainwater Harvesting, as they are not assured with the quality of water however none of the people have ever tried to actually check the quality of rainwater. Moreover the municipality also faces difficulties in providing knowledge regarding RWH to the people due to lack of expertise within the municipality  there are no organization working effectively in promotion of RWH. Meanwhile people having thatched roof has constructed the gutter system in their home but unfortunately the water is passed into the drainage in the city.