National Water Safety Week December 6 to 12:

Public awareness on clean water

Priyanka Kurugala

The Water Supply and Drainage Ministry and Health Ministry will launch a countrywide program to inculcate in the people about using safe water to mark National Water Safety Week from December 6 to 12. "The majority of people do not have pipe-borne water in their homes. They use water from wells. Therefore it is important to make the public aware about using clean water," Water Supply and Drainage Ministry Technical Advisor Ananda Jayaweera told the Daily News.

The Water Supply and Drainage Ministry has planned several activities to mark the National Water Safety Week, he said.

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWS&DB) staff and laboratories will collect over 900 samples from various sources of drinking water and highlight the vulnerability of water to contamination.

The other program is a seminar at the Health Education Bureau on December 7. The Health Ministry will brief the media about making the public aware about water safety.

Knowledge management on water quality and an awareness program will be organized by the NWS&DB for schoolchildren and Community Based Organizations with other partners in a number of districts.

The other programs are the promotion of water safety plans among all drinking water service providers, highlighting household water safety, poster competition and awarding prizes, a walk to highlight the importance of safety of drinking water from Torrington on December 9 at 9 am which will end at Viharamahadevi Park. Participants are expected from the Health Ministry, Water Supply and Drainage Ministry, NWS&DB, schools and community based organizations.

The program is supported by UNICEF for which funds have been allocated.