Long term groundwater monitoring of Anuradhapura District & conducting training programme on awareness creation about Water Born Health Hazards and conducting water clinics (RS Project)

With the idea of controlling the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKDu) and other water borne diseases that are widespread in Anuradhapura district, water clinics were organized by the Water Resources Research & Training Center in order to make the rural people aware on the water quality and related issues and the monitoring of the established network was continued in year 2015.The study was commenced under treasury grant in year 2011 to  identify the water quality distribution in surface water, shallow and deep aquifers in different drainage basins in Anuradhapura district and to make specific recommendations for further studies on water quality distribution including long-term monitoring. From January to December, following activities were completed under this project.

Below table shows activities carried out during the year 2015 under RS Project

Seven (07) Water clinics were conducted with distribution of leaflets, presentations, water analysis and distribution of fluoride reducing filters.

Belown table shows details of Water clinics conducted during the year 2015

Groundwater Monitoring of Artificial recharge Project observation wells (Puttalam)

Mundalama, Puttalam and Kalpitiya DS Divisions were identified as suitable areas for Groundwater Recharge in Sri Lanka (Phase I-Puttalam District). 15 nos. of Hydrogeological and Geophysical investigations, 07 nos. of Test well drilling were completed, 06 Pumping tests   and 26 water samples analyzed out of 196 water samples collected.

Groundwater Monitoring of Vavuniya and Kilinochchi Districts observation wells

Eventhough this research project is currently conducted under the program of this year (2016), it was initiated in year 2013 under the Treasury grant. The project objective is to identify groundwater potential of the area and to see the possibility of developing groundwater sources for future drinking water and small scale irrigated agricultural projects.

The specific objectives of the study is to identify aquifer parameters, aquifer extensions and to demarcate the groundwater potential areas within Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts. It is expected to identify the groundwater sources for small scale irrigated agriculture and for drinking purposes of the people in the district with the intention of up grading the living standards of the people.

This project is currently conducted under the program set-out for this year 2016.

Under Hydrogeological study on Limestone Aquifer system in Mannar district funded by treasury grant, 40 Hydrogeological Investigations, 23 Test Well Drilling were completed and 02 Pumping tests were performed. 60 water sample analyzed in full chemically and 50 water samples analyzed in partially out 200 collected water samples. Well monitoring programs were carried out in five times throughout the year (2015) in existing shallow groundwater network.

Water Quality Study in CKD Prevailing Areas of Ampara, Kurunegala, Trincomalee, Hambantota, Badulla, Monaragala and Polonnaruwa

Under this project, there are several components which have to be completed during this year (2016). The following several tasks were conducted in the Kurunegala district during the the previous year (2015).

Under the project, Water quality study in Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD) prevailing areas of Kurunegala district funded by treasury grant, Prolpithigama and Giribawa DS Divisions were selected for the studies in 2015. The 79 water samples were collected from dug wells and tube wells (including Community Base Organization’s wells, Common wells and Domestic wells) in Polpithigama DS division and the 21 water samples were collected from dug wells and tube wells (only Community Base Organization’s wells) in Giribawa DS division for these studies. Full chemical and heavy metals (As,Cd) analysis  were completed. Also, three Hydrogeological investigations, three Tube wells drilling, two hand pumps installation and two Awareness programs were conducted in Polpithigama and Giribawa DS divisions.

Finally workshop was successfully conducted on 22th December 2015 at Kurunagala with the participation of Hon. Wijith Wijayamuni Zoyza, Minister of Irrigation and Water Management, Secretary of Ministry of Irrigation and Water Management, Chief Secretary North Western Province, Additional District secretaries Kurunagala and Puttalum, Chairmen, General Manager and other office bearers in water Recourses Board, Divisional secretaries and Pradeshiya Saba Secretaries and other office bearers in Kurunagala and Puttalam Districts. There were more than 100 participants in both Government and Non Government Organization those who actively participated to make a one program to Control and Prevent the CKD in North Western Province.