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Conserve drinking water, says Water Board

by Florence Wickramage

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board is requesting the general public to help conserve drinking water to avoid its distribution reaching crisis level.

Briefing the media on the present situation regarding the distribution and consumption of water, the Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Estate Infrastructure W. D. Ailapperuma said that the Water Board has requested the assistance of the Ceylon Electricity Board to cut down on hydro-generation to ensure the water flowing levels of the Kelani and the Mahaveli Rivers, to prevent disruption of water distribution.

He further explained that the Greater Colombo area fed by the Kelani waters and the Mahanuwara areas fed by the Mahaveli would be worst affected if the water flowing levels drop.

Mr. Ailapperuma further said that temporary barricades have been erected below the Ambatale Reservoir as a precautionary measure to prevent sea water coming upstream into the Kelani river. One hundred and twenty five million gallons of water is required daily for the Greater Colombo area out of which 105 million gallons of water are supplied by the Kelani river and the balance by the Labugama and Kalatuwawa Reservoirs.

Due to the delay in normal monsoon rains, water levels at the Castlereigh and Mousakelle reservoirs which feed the Kelani river and the Kotmale reservoir which feeds the Mahaveli have not reached satisfactory status. The water flow in the Kelani River is expected to be at 18 cubic metres per second.

Mr. Ailapperuma stressed the need for the general public to use drinking water wisely and to refrain from using this commodity for other purposes such as washing of vehicles, bathing household pets and watering flower gardens.

While assuring that there will be no imminent water cuts, Mr. Ailapperuma reiterated that the necessity to conserve drinking water has become a priority.

Associated at the media briefing were the Chairman of the National Water Supply Board and Drainage Board (NWS&DB) Colonel Ranjith Wijewardene, General Manager of the Ceylon Electricity Board D. C. Wijeratne, General Manager of the NWSDB S. Weeraratne, Additional General Managers Ananda Silva and Kithsiri Perera.

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