Nepal, May 28 -- In 2019, the Kathmandu Valley Water Supply Management Board (KVWSMB) published a nearly 900-page book titled Stone Spouts and Ponds of Kathmandu Valley. The book reported that of 573 spouts documented in the Valley, 94 have completely perished, while the rest function seasonally. The collapse of this sophisticated water system was not simply a cultural loss but also the destruction of an urban infrastructure network that sustained the Valley population for more than 1,500 years.

Stone spouts, locally known as Hiti and Dhungedhara, are among the ancient structures that continue to function even today. The origin can be traced back to the 15th century Lichchhavi era, with the construction of the most celebrated spouts of H...