A programme to improve water supply distribution across the Western Province is under way, Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Dr. Susil Ranasinghe says.
The Minister said the province has around 1.3 million water connections serving more than five million people, but that high demand and weaknesses in the existing distribution network have made it difficult to maintain a regular supply in some areas.
Work has begun to raise the capacity of the Horana-Kadana Water Treatment Plant, where a new treatment facility with a capacity of 3,500 cubic metres a day will be built. Ranasinghe said the outdated pumps at the plant’s pumping station will also be upgraded.
Once completed, the work is expected to extend water supply to more than 40,000 people in areas including Bulathsinhala and Millaniya in the Kalutara District.
The Minister said modernisation of the ageing pipeline carrying water from Labugama to Colombo has also begun.
The announcement comes during a dry spell that has put reservoir levels under watch. The National Water Supply and Drainage Board said on Tuesday it had no immediate plans to restrict supply anywhere in the country despite prevailing El Niño-related conditions, and was operating at maximum production capacity.
Ranasinghe, who has previously said water tariffs are reviewed twice a year and that any revision would be taken up at a scheduled end-of-June review, did not give a cost for the Western Province programme or a completion date.
