Western Province Water Supply Unaffected by Drought

COLOMBO (News 1st): Sri Lanka's National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has assured the public that water distribution across most parts of the country remains unaffected despite the ongoing dry weather and El Niño conditions, with only limited restrictions currently in place in parts of Monaragala and Batticaloa districts.

Chairman of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Chandana Bandara, said the prevailing drought conditions have had a noticeable impact only in a few areas, particularly in Monaragala and Batticaloa.

According to him, water supply has not been suspended in any affected district. However, due to reduced water availability at certain sources, water distribution in the Bibile and Medagama areas of Monaragala District is being managed under a controlled supply system.

In Batticaloa District, authorities have introduced daily water interruptions of approximately four hours as a precautionary measure to ensure the sustainable management of available water resources.

Bandara stressed that all other water treatment plants and distribution networks across the island continue to operate as normal.

He said information received from the Department of Irrigation indicates that the country's major reservoirs currently maintain water storage levels between 30 and 35 percent, while reservoirs managed by the Mahaweli Authority hold between 50 and 55 percent of their capacity.

The Water Board Chairman added that authorities are nevertheless preparing for the possibility of an extended dry spell and have already initiated precautionary measures to strengthen water security.

These efforts include the rehabilitation and preparation of groundwater resources to ensure alternative supplies are available if required in the future.

Responding to concerns about possible pressure reductions or supply limitations in Colombo and surrounding areas, Bandara said there is currently no impact on the Western Province.

He explained that the Western Province receives water from several major sources, including the Kelani River, Kalu River, Attanagalu Oya, Ma Oya, as well as the Labugama and Kalatuwawa reservoirs.

According to the NWSDB, all six of these sources currently contain sufficient water to meet demand, while water stored in the Labugama and Kalatuwawa reservoirs alone is expected to be adequate for approximately another three months.