'Intergraded approach to prevent deterioration of water resources'

Indunil Hewage

"Sri Lanka should adopt an intergraded approach to find solutions to the depletion and deterioration of water resources, otherwise the water business of the country would not be possible in the near future," said Kusum Athukorala, Chairperson, Sri Lanka Water Partnership.

She made these views when addressing Sri Lanka's first-ever Young Water Professionals Symposium (YWPS) organized by Sri Lanka Water Partnership, co-sponsored by Uniliver Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka's first-ever Young Water Professionals Symposium (YWPS) was a good platform for young water professionals aged 35 years and below, employed in public, private, academic and civil institutions to generate ideas that would herald the changes necessary to meet the water challenges of today.

"Sri Lanka has a fragmented water system and water catchment conservation has been badly neglected. The Sri Lankan government and all other industry related stakeholders should take immediate solutions to have a sound water management system in the country, in order to cater to future demand for food and commercial industry requirements,"Athukorala said. The International Water Management Institute's representative noted that agriculture uses approximately 80% of the world's available freshwater resources. As the world's population continues to grow, urbanize and turn wealthier, the pressure on the global water supplies is intensifying. More water would be needed for the industry as well as for food production. At the same time, the natural systems that underpin the water cycle, would be in demand for commercial development opportunities they offer.

Climate change will bring yet more challenges. More extreme weather events are forecast and that means more floods and drought.

The world's poorest and most vulnerable people, such as the two billion who depend on small holder farms for their livelihoods, are likely to be the most affected by these challenges. Water quality is also a growing issue.

One tenth of the world's population consumes food that is irrigated with waste water and approximately two billion people globally, are affected by water-related diseases.