Water consumption rising amid dry weather; Public urged to consume water sparingly

Chandana Bandara, the Chairman of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), has reported a notable rise in water usage due to the ongoing dry weather in Sri Lanka. Speaking to the media, he urged everyone to be careful with their water use. He warned that if the dry conditions continue, water distribution might need to be limited. Bandara explained that, especially in the Colombo District of the Western Province, water treatment plants have a maximum supply limit. For example, the Ambatale Water Treatment Plant can provide 560,000 cubic meters of water each day, while the Labugama plant has a limit of 150,000 cubic meters daily. He stressed that they cannot produce more than these amounts. Currently, they are operating at full capacity to provide water across Sri Lanka. He asked the public to understand that if the drought worsens, supplying enough water may become challenging due to rising demand. "Use water very carefully," he advised. "We are not asking you to stop using water, but to use it wisely at home and to avoid wasting it." He cautioned that if this situation continues, it could lead to lower water pressure in high-altitude areas and at the ends of certain pipelines. In such cases, they may have to supply water with reduced pressure. Bandara also mentioned that the levels in reservoirs are falling quickly. If the drought conditions escalate, there may be a need to cut back on water supply. Additionally, he noted that saltwater is increasingly entering rivers through estuaries, a problem linked to human activities like sand mining.