Dr. Luna Bharati participated in the World Water Day seminar organised by DHBW Mannheim (Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University). The seminar addressed linkages between domestic water and sustainable groundwater use. Dr. Bharati’s presentation was titled “The surface-groundwater continuum – a case study on management of springs in mountain catchments in Nepal”.

Dr. Bharati’s presentation described project activities aimed at improving the reliability of water resources for domestic and agricultural purposes in mountain communities in Nepal. The project piloted a series of integrated watershed management interventions to recharge and maintain flows in mountain spring systems, which included building infiltration ponds, soil conservation and upland forest management. The project also researched the source of spring water and the effectiveness of watershed interventions through long-term monitoring and use of isotopes. Other presentations in the seminar included the following talks:

• “Our Daily Water: Attitude and Behavior of the University Members of the DHBW Mannheim” – Prof. Dr. Martin Kornmeier (DHBW Mannheim)
• “Our groundwater – No reason to worry or a problem?” – Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Bender (DHBW Mosbach)
• “From groundwater to customer – drinking water supply in Karlsruhe” – Anja Feßenbecker (Stadtwerke Karlsruhe )
• “Industrial water treatment using the example of BASF SE’s sites in Ludwigshafen – Franz Josef Sanden (BASF SE)