How to transform school premises to an ecological laboratory

Concept Note

For surface water dependent country such as Sri Lanka, proper catchment conservation is the most viable means to ensure a steady supply of water. For example, because of lack of attention given to catchment conservation, most of natural springs that were perennial about three decades back have vanished in semi urban areas of Sri Lanka. The dug wells that were the primary source in most peri-urban areas have been polluted beyond use. Households are therefore becoming entirely dependent on water supply schemes to purchase water at a price. Those projects are already under stressed due to high demand. Therefore, it is imperative to reactivate traditional water sources and flows as Insurance against future climate variability causing health hazards.

Main issues related to water now being faced in Sri Lanka are

* Degradation of catchments of rivers resulting sedimentation of reservoirs and natural streams

* pollution in streams and rivers in urban areas beyond use even for bathing

* Depletion of groundwater at a rate about 0.1 M/ Year according to recent data,

* Health issues such as chronic kidney diseases caused by polluted water

* Unauthorised land filling of wetlands in flood plains which play the role of Kidney in nature cleansing water,

* Non availability of water for farmer during drought periods

Background

Sri Lanka is internationally recognised for its hydraulic civilisation and its glorious contribution specially use of water for food production. Ancient irrigation technology guaranteed the water saving by constructing Village Tanks. There were more than 2000 irrigation tanks in the Dry Zone itself. Ancient irrigation systems, which provided the main source of livelihood for the people, were built for the benefit of the country and also to conserve natural ecosystems. For an example, in Sri Lanka, World Water Day always carries a reference to the famous statement by King Parakramabahu, “Let not a drop of water to go to the sea without being made use for mankind”. This statement valid even for wet zones as demonstrated by a drought occur in 2017 in Gampaha District. In the previous year that District was flooded submerging towns like Gampaha. The volume of water dumped to the sea in that year was equivalent to the volume of water of the biggest irrigation tank in Sri Lanka called Parakrama Samudra. However, in the following year, people had to buy water at a price. (Ref: “Drought-hit Gampaha District walks miles, digs deep for water” https://www.sundaytimes.lk/170226/news/drought-hit-gampaha-district-walks-miles-digs-deep-for-water-230495.htm)

Concept behind the proposal

Water management is a harmonious collaboration between state and community. The irrigation centric development activities in ancient Sri Lanka recognized the principle of coexistence between man and nature. Following article explains a strategy to simulate that approach in modern context.

https://island.lk/eco-friendly-regional-development-model/?fbclid* IwAR2goHfTtvj85vVE4-kP1-bg4EGvx9rj8lyBKLY_9px8eLWsHOsdgX5Abf8

As explained in the above article the boundaries of administrative district can be decided using features of nature such as river basins. At the moment those boundaries such as provinces are simply straight lines decided by British laid after the Industrial Revolution. The project we propose can lay the foundation to change those boundaries focusing preservation of Eco Systems rather than following artificial boundaries. For an example there are about 107 river basins in Sri Lanka. Boundaries of about 250 Divisional Secretary areas can reconfigured reducing that number to 107 if we adapt this river basin approach.

Lessons for History

The importance of creating Volumetric impression among communities about water availability in the river basin where they live, play a major role in this transformation. This volumetric impression is naturally inbuilt among consumers who buy waster from Water supply Board. There is a need to create similar volumetric impression to conserve rain falls with their dedicated participation. That volumetric impression was created by ancient kings in Sri Lanka by constructing Village Tanks to capture rain falls for both agriculture & domestic purposes. For an example, the experts say that in North Central Province of Sri Lanka’s itself there are 14,000 small ancient village tanks and about 2000 are still in good shape. Those tanks also play the role of Kidneys of the nature by playing a role of Wetlands cleaning the water. Another hidden benefit of those village tanks was, that the communities were visually aware the water volume available for their future livelihood until next rain. In addition, they constructed tanks called Kulu Wewas inside the Forests within the catchments of village tanks for rain water harvesting. Welfare of animals was also a one objective of that design. For example, Grass grown in the beds of Kulu Wewas had been the foods for animals such as wild elephants as well as cattle. As a result, there were no issues such as the human elephant conflict.

Now we can not apply that hardware approach because people are already settled in catchment areas. Therefore, we could use alternative methods such as Rain Water Harvesting from roof tops without letting it to runoff during rains. The climatic data published by the Department of Meteorology of Sri Lanka could also be used for that purpose. However, those data have no muscle to create volumetric impression among communities to save water as such. They are also not worried about the quality of water which affect the health of the communities.

Our Proposal

In our view, the schools could be used as a launching ground to implement this proposal. For climatic data collection we can use school children. Rain Fall measuring equipment can be installed in each school premises thereby creating awareness among our second generation about the importance of conserving ecosystems of the country. Biodiversity Park can be introduced to create awareness about local tree varieties. Their school premises can be transformed to mini catchment cum Eco Laboratory by introducing Rain Gauges & Rain fall Harvesting methods on roof tops of school buildings and small ponds constructed at selected locations within school premises. Efficiency of their interventions can be measured by gauging the runoff from the school premises and the water quality of the wells around the school premises.

School children can use what they learnt from this school Eco Lab and duplicate in their homesteads. Competition can then be held among them to identify the most efficient ecofriendly homestead. Insurance Companies specialized in Health Sector can also be participated in this effort by awarding prizes for them by granting free health insurance facilities to the winners.

Vision and Mission Statements for the proposed project

Vision

Let not a drop of water to go to the sea without being made use for mankind

Mission

Creation of Volumetric Impression among communities about water availability at Basin Level where they live

Creating Awareness among them about climatic issues being faced by the country

Implementing agencies

This project would be a joint venture of Education Department with Department of Meteorology & Water Supply Board. National Water Supply Board to could cover the water quality testing part of the program. Daily Rain Fall data collected by school children can be also used by Department of Meteorology to create Basin wise Volumetric Impression among rest of the communities living within each basin.

Engr. Mahinda Panapitiya,

M.S, Department of Agriculture & Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Utah, USA, 1985, B.Sc. (Civil Engineering), University of Peradeniya, 1974, Sri Lanka