Pollution of inland water in Sri Lanka

This project is being implemented since July 2007 till November 2009. Its main target is focused on strengthening the capacity in the waste-water treatment area. Based on our experience acquired during implementation of a similar ODA project in Sri Lanka, technological assistance in the wastewater treatment area mainly from hospitals was selected as a main theme of this project. A lot of hazardous substances (as a waste, wastewater, pathogenous biological substances etc.) are annually produced by them without any type of treatment. This situation negatively influences the whole Sri Lanka ecosystem such as water resources, soil and health of inhabitants. At present there is no strict legislation in Sri Lanka for discharging of the wastewaters from hospitals and medical equipment. Representatives of responsible bodies are aware of the situation that untreated municipal wastewaters represent large quantity of pollution for drinking water resources. Project objectives are being executed through application of a modern technology for the wastewater treatment produced by the local hospital in the town of Pannipityia, Sri Lanka. Generally it may be stated that the project activities are divided into three implementation phases. The first outcome is focused on making a detailed feasibility study and on identification of suitable technical solution for the waste-water treatment. Further, it will be necessary to carry out field works in the area concerned and thus to obtain data and analyse the sources of pollution. In the second year, the project implementation will be aimed at installation of the selected treatment technology and to training of local staff. Last year of the project implementation will be focused on the information campaign and on seminars oriented on water management area. During the project implementation, we also suppose creation of several new jobs for the specialized staff. The co-operation with the local Ministry of Health and Nutrition and the Central Environmental Authority is targeted to developing new limits for discharging of treated wastewaters from hospitals.