Sunday Times 2
Water Board: Yesterday, today and tomorrow
View(s):- National Water Supply & Drainage Board @ 50
By Eng. Gerad Fernando
Every year “The World Water Day” is globally commemorated on March 22.
This year World Water Day is more important for Sri Lankans as the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), the leading government agency responsible for the provision of drinking water, completes 50 years of service.
History
There is some evidence that even in the time of ancient kings, pipes have been used to convey water. There was evidence that piped water for domestic use had been provided in the Dutch era in areas such as Galle. However, a systematic piped water system was established by the British in 1886 for northern and central parts of Colombo city.
Water was obtained from a reservoir constructed at Labugama, about 40 km east of Colombo, and conveyed under gravity to a ground reservoir constructed at Mattakkuliya in North Colombo. Later another ground reservoir was constructed at Maligakanda, and supply from Labugama was supplemented by another reservoir at Kalatuwawa.
The government constructed a water treatment plant at Ambathale on the banks of the Kelani River and supplemented the city water supply in the early 1960s. Gradually other major cities also got piped water.
Establishment of NWSDB
As in many other countries, the water supply in Sri Lanka was also under the respective local councils. As the capacity of the councils was not adequate, it was decided to establish a separate body for improving piped water.
Accordingly, by Act No. 02 of the State Council, NWSDB was established on January 1, 1975. The NWSDB took over 66 water supply schemes (WSS) of different capacities throughout the island, managed by respective councils, which had the option of handing over water supply schemes (WSS) to NWSDB or retaining them. Local councils in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Bandarawela, Nuwara Eliya and a few other areas decided to continue their WSS on their own. The Board took over the remaining 66 WSS, consisting of about 65,000 service connections.
Evolution of NWSDB during the last 50 years
The NWSDB was a statutory board that functioned under a chairman and director board appointed by the minister in charge of water supply. The Board was under the ministry covering the local government or urban development from 1975 to 2007. A separate ministry for water supply was created in 2007. The Water Ministry was scrapped, and the board was attached again to the Ministry of Urban Development. During the last 50 years, the Board has grown gradually to provide an invaluable service to the nation by providing pipe-borne water with high quality, ensuring a healthy nation.
Major achievements of NWSDB
- Increase of water coverage
An indicator widely used in water supply is the percentage of people who have access to pipe-borne water. Starting with very low coverage in 1975, during the last five decades, the Board was able to increase the coverage to about 50%. Today, all major cities and other urban areas have been provided with water. The total number of premises connected with piped water is about 3.15 million, while 93% of them are domestic houses.
Many consumers get water compliant with SLS and WHO standards for more than 12 hours a day.
- Construction of tubewells
As people in rural areas have been suffering from difficulties in getting water for domestic use, the Board was able to construct more than 5000 tubewells with some foreign assistance.
- Establishment of rural water supply schemes
Small-scale rural water supply schemes (RWSS) have been operating in the country for a long period since the 1960s in rural and plantation areas. Today, there are about 4000 RWSS cov-ering 12% of the population.
- Sewerage services
Initially the Board was expected to handle the water supply while providing technical assistance to local councils for developing surface drainage systems. However, later the Board was entrusted to provide piped sewerage services as well. A few sewerage systems for cities such as Kolonnawa, Dehiwala, Ratmalana, Hikkaduwa, Katharagama, and Kurunegala were con-structed and managed by the Board. Also, sewerage systems in many large housing schemes and vital government establishments such as the Parliament are maintained by the Board. Additionally, the Board provided sanitation facilities to many rural houses, schools and healthcare facilities.
- Creating a knowledge hub and resource pool
The most important achievement of the Board is the creation of a knowledge hub and resource pool. Today, it has a wealth of knowledge on water and sanitation together with well-equipped, accredited laboratories and a state-of-the-art training and development centre which provides services for any outside agencies as well.
Challenges
The Board presently faces the following difficulties.
- Financial Sustainability
- Inadequate level of service
- Increasing cost of operation
- High non-revenue water (NRW)
Possible remedial measures
- Investments in new water supply schemes
As the Board has already encountered difficulties in meeting its debts, future investments in water supply must be undertaken with careful considerations. Many new WSS may not be individually financially viable, and overall financial viability can be achieved only with national tariff adjustments. The water tariff also has been raised very heavily, and there will be only very limited room for future tariff adjustments, at least for the next few years. During the 2025 budget speech, the President has stated that only one new WSS will be constructed during this year in addition to the completion of four ongoing projects.
- Increasing the level of service
The overall level of service needs to be improved. The Board introduced a “Customer Charter” some time back, and action must be taken to reactivate it.
- Challenges due to climate change
Due to climate change, water flows in rivers are reduced, and water collected at irrigation tanks may also be limited. The effects of climate change must be well investigated and remedial measures taken to address this situation.
- Increasing productivity
About 2500 employees are presently employed. As the largest component of the cost of water supply is the human cost, action must be taken to increase productivity and reduce the cost in the future.
- Reducing NRW
Reducing NRW (non-revenue water—the water that is lost in the distribution and transmission of water) is also vital. A recently completed high-value project funded by ADB has helped to reduce NRW in Colombo city from 36% to 20%. Similarly, various measures are required to reduce NRW further.
- Operating within the National Policies
A major setback is the change of policies from time to time. The latest water policy and sanitation policy were approved by the government in 2023 and 2024 and cover not only the activities of the Board but also the involvement of other sector agencies such as local councils, the Department of National Community Water Supply, ministries of Education, Health and Environment, local and international NGOs, CBOs and civil society organisations. Although policies are established, no implementation mechanism is introduced.
- Assisting other stakeholders
As per the corporate plan of NWSDB, the water coverage in 2029 by the Board is forecasted to be 58%. Therefore, even in 2029, a substantial portion of society will depend on other sources such as RWSS, dug wells, tube wells and rainwater harvesting for their water needs. The NWSDB is full of resources, and it has an obligation towards the public to provide necessary assistance in carrying out the provision of water and sanitation by other sector holders.
(The writer is a civil engineer who served the NWSDB for 34 years and retired as additional general manager.)
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