NWSDB uses bowsers to provide water to 55,000 families

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The government is distributing drinking water to 55,000 families in 52 Divisional Secretariat areas, using bowsers, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said on Thursday (17.) The NWSDB added that many areas in the southern province were facing many drinking water issues.

Wasantha Illangasinghe, General Manager of the NWSDB, said the Southern, North-Western, North-Central and Northern provinces had been adversely affected by the drought.

“Beliatta, Tangalle, Angunukolapelessa, Weeraketiya and a few other places in Southern province are the worst affected by drinking water shortages. We urge people to use the water sparingly. A person that uses piped water uses about 120 litres a day. However, only 40 litres are needed for cooking and drinking. We urge people to use alternative water sources if possible, to fulfill other needs,” she said.

Illangasinghe added that as the water levels dropped in rivers and other water sources, the quality of water also dropped.When water levels in Kelaniya and Kalu Ganga drops, seawater comes in and increases the salinity of river water, she said.

“Algae start growing in tanks when water levels drop. Sediment also gets mixed with drinking water,” she said.

The Met Department has said that there won’t be any significant rain until October.

Athula Karunanayake, Director, Meteorological Department said that there would be significant rain from October to December. There would be less rain again from December to April, he said. About 37,000 acres of paddy land had been destroyed by the drought, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.