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Good water levels in tanks, say officials but people facing drinking water issues
View(s):By Nathara Abeywickrema
People in some parts of the country are already facing issues with potable water, although officials say that the prevailing hot weather condition will only have a minimal impact on agriculture and drinking water due to the showers that were experienced in recent months.
Seventy three of the major water tanks that come under the Irrigation Department have good water levels, according to Engineer L.M.W. Ratnasiri, Director (Water Management).
Deputy Director (Weather Forecasting & Early Warning) of the Department of Meteorology, Meril Mendis, said that the high heat in most parts of the country is the result of the sun being directly over Sri Lanka and irregular, sporadic wind patterns.
The scorching weather is expected to last until mid-April, when the inter-monsoon season begins, the Met. Department says.
However, residents in some areas are experiencing problems with access to potable water because of poor infrastructure.
Residents of Anamaduwa, Puttalam: Going in search of potable water. Pic by Hiran Priyankara
The Puttalam Pradeshiya Sabha has said that many are facing this problem, and local community-based organisations are helping to maintain the distribution of drinking water.
According to Hasith Wickramasuriya, technical officer of Lunugamvehera Pradheshiya Sabha, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board’s (NWSDB) treatment plant connected to the Lunugamvehera tank has a minimum capacity, which has resulted in a lack of drinking water. He said the treatment plant will soon be expanded.
The Lunugamvehera Pradeshiya Sabha, meanwhile, has deployed water bowsers to distribute drinking water to residents affected by this shortage.
However, Mr. Wickramasuriya, said the area’s agriculture sector has not been affected by the dry weather.
NWSDB Deputy General Manager Anoja Kaluarachchi, commenting on this, said, certain outstation areas are facing this problem due to the increased consumption of water, brought on by the current hot weather. Certain areas in Kandy, including Gampolawatta, were facing a similar situation she said.
She added that most reservoirs, notably Castlereigh and Maussakelle, have water levels above 50%, indicating that overall, reservoir conditions were quite favourable. The reservoirs at Labugama and Kalatuwawa had 70% capacity, she said.
In spite of the extreme heat, the agriculture sector is performing well, assured Dr. Nihal Ariyaratne, Anuradhapura District Health Director. However, farmers fear water shortages if dry weather conditions continue.
Dr. Ariyaratne, however, said there is no water scarcity now as it is being hardly used for agriculture as 75 percent of the harvest has been completed.
All Island Agrarian Services Union Vice President Susantha Kumara Nawaratne said common repercussions of heatwaves include decreased crop yields, elevated insect and disease issues, and degraded soil. Rain is anticipated in April, but if rain does not come, the demand for water in the irrigation sector may put a strain on the available water supply in these affected areas, he pointed out.
Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Director Major General Udaya Herath said some issues with drinking water are being experienced in the North and North-Central Districts, and water bowsers have been released to the affected areas.
Mahaweli Authority’s Director General (Technical Services) and Water Management Secretarial, Engineer Nilantha Danapala, said the heavy rains in the recent past enabled the CEB to maximise its hydropwer generation, But he warned that if the dry spell continued, it could create an issue and called for sustainable water management mechanisms.
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