Water levels in the Labugama and Kalatuwawa reservoirs are high enough to maintain an uninterrupted supply for the next three months even if no rain falls in that period, Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply Susil Ranasinghe said on Thursday.
Forecasts point to below-average rainfall over August and September because of the El Niño phenomenon. But assessments carried out by experts of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) have confirmed that current storage in the two reservoirs is sufficient to keep supply running, the minister said.
No decision has been taken to impose water cuts, Ranasinghe added, and authorities do not anticipate any risk over the coming two months. He cautioned that the position could change depending on future weather conditions and rainfall patterns.
Labugama and Kalatuwawa, in the Colombo district, are the older of the sources feeding the capital’s water network and are among the first to come under pressure in a dry spell.
The assurance follows repeated warnings about the coming months. The Meteorology Department has said there is a high probability of El Niño conditions developing over the October-December period, and has separately cautioned that the country could face both drought and heavy rainfall within the same stretch, urging early preparedness.
Water cuts have been a recurring feature of the year in parts of the Western Province, though most have been short maintenance shutdowns rather than shortage-driven restrictions. Supply to sections of Gampaha and Colombo was interrupted for repair work on several occasions between May and July.
The NWSDB has previously asked consumers to use water sparingly during dry periods, particularly in areas served by smaller intakes where levels fall faster than in the main reservoirs.
