Effectiveness of five rural water supply schemes implemented under RIWASH project in Batticaloa District

Abstract

In Sri Lanka more than 60% of the population living in rural area does not have access to safe drinking water. As per census records of 2001, 75% of total population are living in rural areas and do not have proper water sanitation facilities, which can be directly related to health hygiene and income generation of rural community in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan National Policy states the government's goal is to provide clean water and safe sanitation to all its citizens by 2025. However, progress toward this goal has been hindered by a centralized delivery system, inefficient intra- governmenta processes and limited capacity at the local level to manage water and sanitation systems. More recently, the Government of Sri Lanka has taken steps to address these obstacles through a national policy for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sector (RWSS). The RWSS aims to shift the responsibility for delivery of water and sanitation services to, Local Government, civil society and private sector organizations. Towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goal (MGDs),in 2025, Government of Sri Lanka has taken steps to develop the RWSS Schemes in every part of Sri Lanka. In the Batticaloa District there were no rural water supply schemes implemented in the past years due to disturbances and displacements of people in the rural villages. The only piped water supply is that implemented by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board in the urban area to cover Batticaloa and kattankud town limits. Generally in all villages there is scarcity prevailing for drinking water. Villagers fulfil their drinking water needs by obtaining water from the nearest village. For their household and other needs, irrigation tanks and channels are being used. This water too is of undesirable quality and the quantity is inadequate. There is a possibility of spreading of waterbom < diseases in these villages as most of the people are directly consuming the water without any treatment or even boiling. During the dry season the situation becomes worse. Normally in villages of this nature, it is the women who fetch water in pots and cans. It is expected that with provision of an appropriate water supply system, their burden will reduce in going out in search of water and carrying back to their houses. It is also expected that the housework will be made easy by availability of pipe-borne potable water. Most of Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's)worked in these villages, were focused on upgrading the living standard of the people by encouraging them for self employment, cultivation and income generation modes, but rarely on water and sanitation issues. Therefore, the people of these villages were expecting to fulfil their basic need of obtaining drinking water through rural water supply schemes implemented in their villages. IV