UNICEF funded water supply scheme completed

Construction work and initial testing of the new Tangalle water supply scheme in the south of the country have been completed, while work on the Tirukkovil water supply scheme is making steady progress.

These UNICEF-supported projects are aimed at providing a sustainable safe water supply to tsunami-affected families and host communities in both Hambantota and Ampara districts and are being completed with the full collaboration of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB).

The main distribution centre of the Tangalle water supply scheme

The Tangalle project which took 18 months to complete and cost US $ 10 million is due to be commissioned shortly. The current water supply capacity of 2500 cubic metres per day is to be increased to 6500 cubic metres per day boosting the total output to 9500 cubic metres per day. 52,000 persons will soon have access to safe drinking water and this number is expected to increase to 65,000 persons by 2025.

The main components of the project include rehabilitation of existing treatment plants and construction of a new treatment plant at Nalagama, ensuring extension of the water supply to Nalagama, Palapotha, Beliatta and Hatbodiya areas, construction of four new tanks at Palapotha, Hatbodiya, Nalagama, Tangalle town and Beliatta, developing an additional water source by building a new bund at Navayanvila to supplement the raw water supply and laying of 42 kilometres of pipeline for transmission and distribution.

Tangalle is a tsunami hit area with a limited number of water sources to produce safe, drinking water. The existing water supply facility has been in operation since 1953 and has an intermittent supply of water, i.e. less than 24 hours a day. The lack of fresh water resources along the coastal belt had been a major issue in providing drinking water to the people of the area.