Water safe for drinking - National Water Supply and Drainage Board

Disna MUDALIGE

The salinity level of water distributed in the greater Colombo area is safe for drinking, National Water Supply and Drainage Board chairman Karunasena Hettiarachchi told the Daily News yesterday.

He said even though the prevailing dry weather has resulted in salt water intrusion into the Kelani river, the board has made sure that the conductivity level in water is below 1,500 which is safe for drinking. He said that salt water intrusion during this period of the year is no strange phenomenon with the high tide and as a result, water distributed from Kelani river during these days is a little more salty than the usual level. Hettiarachchi said that the board had requested the Ceylon Electricity Board to release more water from Polpitigama to dilute the situation.

He said that salinity barriers have been constructed by placing sand bags to minimise the impact of sea water intrusion. The chairman said the board will not pump water from Kelani river if the salinity in water exceeds the 1,500 conductivity level.

The board also requested the public to use water sparingly.