The National Water Supply and Drainage Board temporarily suspended drinking water purification and distribution at the Ambalantota Water Treatment Plant from Sunday afternoon after the level of the Walawe River fell rapidly near the plant.
The board said purification could not be carried out under the conditions. Supply has been restricted to a number of towns and villages including Ambalantota, Mirijjawila, Hungama, Nonagama, Bataatha, Angunakolapelessa and Barawakumbuka.
Dry weather upstream
The board attributed the drop to the prevailing dry weather. With the Walawe River’s upper catchment receiving no rain, the flow was obstructed and the water around the treatment plant turned black — a colour change that indicates stagnation and organic load rather than the sediment-laden flow a treatment plant is designed for.
The mouth of the Walawe River remains blocked, and work to cut it open has already begun.
The board expressed regret for the inconvenience to consumers. It did not say how long the suspension is expected to last.
Part of a widening dry spell
The shutdown is a concrete downstream consequence of the dry conditions that have been building across the island. The Disaster Management Centre reported that more than 81,000 people across seven districts were affected by the dry spell, and the Meteorology Department has since issued an amber warm-weather advisory covering the Eastern and North Central provinces.
Ada Derana has separately reported that rainfall is expected to increase in parts of the island from August 25, which may ease catchment conditions if it materialises over the Walawe basin.
At the time of writing, on Sunday night, no other verified Sri Lankan newsroom had published its own report of the Ambalantota suspension.
