Water consumption increases due to dry weather; people urged to use water sparingly

By Ajith Siriwardana  

The NWSDB has no capacity to produce water exceeding the limit whereas the consumption is increasing  

If the situation worsens, water supply to higher elevations and houses at the end of pipe lines will be at low pressure  

Claiming that water consumption has gone up due to the prevailing dry weather, Chairman of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) Chandana Bandara urged people to use water sparingly as water supply may get affected if the prevailing dry weather continues. The Chairman said the NWSDB is producing water at the maximum capacity right now and that if the prevailing dry weather aggravates, water supply may be affected with the increasing consumption. He said the NWSDB has no capacity to produce water exceeding the limit whereas the consumption is increasing.  

“Water production remains the same even though the water consumption is increasing. For instance, In Colombo District, Ambatale Water Treatment Plant has the capacity to produce only 560,000 cubic meters of drinking water per day while Labugama Kalatuwawa can produce 150,000 cubic meters per day. We do not have the capacity to produce water exceeding the limit,” he said.  

The Chairman said the NWSDB will not limit water supply right now and urged consumers to use water sparingly without any wastage. “We request people to fix if there are any water leakages and to minimise water leakages,” he said. Bandara said if the situation worsens, water supply to high elevations and houses at the end of pipe lines will be at low pressure.