Sri Lanka's urban poor face contaminated
Low-income communities in Colombo struggle with unreliable, muddy tap water and new utility tariffs, while climate extremes threaten broader water safety
Nalin Kaluwitharana, a three-wheeler driver from the Ranjan Wijerathnapura settlement in central Colombo, waters his garden each morning with tap water. He and his neighbors rely on the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) but face routine cuts and muddy water when service resumes.
Linda Arulanantham, from the same neighborhood, said water turns muddy immediately after a cut. She uses a filter, but not every household has one. Consultant community physician Novil Wijesekara warns that during prolonged drought, scarcity forces people to use less protected water sources.
Community schemes and contamination
Community water supply schemes were established in the 1990s to provide safe drinking water to rural areas not covered by the NWSDB. Ananda Vijitha Kumara Mapa, director general at the Department of National Community Water Supply, said initial sources like springs were clean. He told Mongabay that 20-25 years later, contamination arrived from development, agriculture, and livestock in catchment areas.
The department has registered community-based organizations to manage these schemes. Since 2019, 367 new schemes have been initiated. Mapa stated that 170 are completed, with the rest to be finished by 2027.
Supply, access, and safety gaps
Atham Bawa, deputy general manager at the NWSDB, said Colombo district requires about 1 million cubic meters of water daily and faces no distribution challenges outside of emergencies. Wijesekara's data shows access to NWSDB water in the Western province rose from 43.1% of households in 2012 to 58.7% in 2024.
This leaves many households dependent on wells or community schemes. Wijesekara said these require regular protection and monitoring. He advocates for household water treatment and safe storage where central supplies are unreliable. The Sri Lanka Standards Institution sets quality standards, requiring chlorination, filtration, and complex purification for heavy minerals.
Climate impacts on water quality
Extreme weather events now heavily impact Sri Lanka's water. Wijesekara cited climate variability as a growing concern. Floods can wash sewage, animal waste, and solid waste into surface sources, contaminating previously safe wells.
Drought presents a different threat. "During prolonged drought, the main challenge is water scarcity," Wijesekara said. "When water becomes scarce, people may be forced to use alternative or less protected water sources."
Management and mounting costs
Engineer Nilantha Dhanapala of the Water Management Secretariat said major reservoirs were at 55% capacity as of August 25. He noted limited conveyance capacity hinders the NWSDB from distributing safe water everywhere. NWSDB's Bawa said a drought management plan includes developing groundwater extraction and using water bowsers, which have aided over 70,000 people.
For residents, cost is a critical burden. Abdul Rahman Mohamed of Ranjan Wijerathnapura said many engage in contract labour and struggle to pay bills. A 2024 gazette notification set water tariffs for low-income individuals between 100 and 1600 Sri Lankan rupees (US$0.30 to US$4.87) per unit. Mohamed said minor reductions in 2024 provided little relief after a major hike in 2023. A May 2026 audit report highlighted NWSDB management weaknesses contributing to tariff increases, noting domestic consumers generate about 73% of its revenue.
