Water, water everywhere …
View(s):It has become a ritual nowadays. As extreme heat or extreme rain hits the country throughout the year, the authorities are either grappling with floods or urging people to conserve water.
This time of the year, it’s about conserving water. Kussi Amma Sera and her friends Serapina and Mabel Rasthiyadu had also got into the debate and to use a popular phrase: “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.”
I couldn’t hear much of the conversation as they were huddled in the corner of the garden away from the Margosa tree, but it appeared they were discussing the water shortage and why Sri Lanka is unable to retain rain when it rains, rather than allowing it to flow into the sea. Many of their villages were affected by drought and a shortage of water for paddy cultivations and other primary crops.
They were also heard to complain that bottled water companies were sucking up the groundwater resources, affecting wells in the area. More on that later.
The issue of water, extreme heat and extreme rain as part of climate change was also raised in a speech made by Prof. Nirmalie Pallewatta, Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology and Environment Sciences, University of Colombo, at last week’s opening of the MJF Centre for Dignified Empowerment and Sustainable Development in Kalkudah, Batticaloa. She spoke extensively on how climate change has triggered extreme weather conditions – very hot periods and/or extreme rain while ocean acidification, a new phenomenon which inhibits shell growth in marine animals and causes reproductive disorders in some fish, is rapidly happening. Her message was that Sri Lanka needs to be aware of these rapid changes in climate and be prepared, like a good scout.
As I ponder on these thoughts and decide it’s a critical issue to discuss, the phone rings. It’s Karapincha Perera, the thay-kade (tea shop) gossip, alerting me to a public call from the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) to use water sparingly during this dry season.
“Machan what to do, no? When it rains, we complain like that famous nursery rhyme — rain, rain, go away…….come again another day. Then when it is hot, we yearn for rain,” he says, expecting me to get into a long conversation.
“It’s all about climate change and whether we are prepared,” I replied.
“Why can’t we collect rainwater on rooftops instead of it flowing into the sea,” he asked. “Well, we need proper policies and guidelines to encourage people to conserve water and also encourage water harvesting,” I noted.
In its appeal, the NWSDB said the average water consumption of people had also increased dramatically due to the dry weather, while urging people in an annual ritual of — limit the use of refined tap water for activities such as washing cars, gardening, swimming pool maintenance, etc. Gut feeling? I don’t think many people bother to follow this advice because they are yet to realise the dangers of climate change, to family, friends and the environment.
While Sri Lanka’s rainfall is sufficient to meet the country’s agriculture and other needs, the advent of climate change, the extreme weather – hot periods followed by heavy downpours and vice versa – has resulted in a level of under-preparedness. Hence, the regular warnings on water conservation from the NWSDB.
Bottled water companies sucking up the ground water resources and draining water from wells are another source of concern. That was a big issue in the Gampaha district recently where groundwater resources were being commercially exploited. When an Indian company set up a plant spread over 20 hectares in the same district to produce fruit juice, residents complained to local authorities saying the plant will affect the area’s groundwater levels, agricultural activities and other consumption needs. In recent times, wells have gone dry during extreme warm conditions, which hasn’t happened before.
In the eastern Batticaloa town of Pulmoddai, residents this week protested against the setting up of a planned massive water bottling plant aimed at exporting bottled water to West Asia. A local politician, currently a Government Minister, was blamed for helping get approvals.
In other news on water, the Agriculture Department’s Deputy Director of Research Dr. P.B. Dharmasena told a seminar last week that around 60-70 per cent of the water from rivers such as Gin Ganga, Kalu Ganga and Kelani Ganga flows into the sea while its less than 50 per cent in the case of water from rivers such as Malwathu Oya,Yan Oya, Kala-Oya and Badulu Oya.
Dr. Dharmasena said while Sri Lanka receives about 2000 mm of rain fall annually 50 per cent of it flows into the sea.
“Though there is plenty of water in Sri Lanka we keep on talking about it as a problem because we do not manage our water resources well,” he was quoted as saying, adding: “Can’t we find a better way to retain that water instead of allowing it to flow into the sea?”
Water preservation termed water harvesting should be a subject in schools combined with climate change and ways of mitigating it. Apart from the large tanks that were built during the times of the ancient kings to preserve water, there is little effort at rain water retention. New policies pertaining to concessions to house builders and condo developers encouraging solar power use and having rain water retention structures should be developed.
The vast number of tanks and canals in agriculture zones in Sri Lanka needs to be properly maintained and silt removed regularly.
Apart from the Government, the private sector also needs to help in encouraging solar power use and water retention methods through research and its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. CSR on the other hand has become a tool to promote a company more than doing good in society.
Nevertheless, there are a few companies like Dilmah that are engaged in climate change work and research. Dilmah some months ago established the world’s first Climate Research Station at Queensberry Estate in Nawalapitiya. This research station built at an elevation of 1645 metres is to be used by leading experts on climate change and will facilitate future research in measuring changes in climatic patterns in the country.
While raising the spectre of a gloomy water shortage, extreme heat and water wastage, Kussi Amma Sera at this point, after finishing the conversation with her friends, was liberally opening the tap and washing the kitchen utensils. More water was flowing down the drain than being used for washing, a common problem in homes!
In the near future, wars will be fought not over territory, political ideals or immigration but over water rights particularly when rivers flow across borders and create a water scarcity and bottle water companies export water, which is a sacred resource of the people. With consumer awareness rising over sugary drinks which cause obesity and diabetes, global corporate giants like Coca Cola and Pepsico are selling bottled water for local and export consumption. They, like many others, are bottling scarce water resources in one country and selling them to another country.
One is reminded of King Parakramabahu, famed for the creation of the Parakrama Samudra (lake) in Polonnaruwa. He is best known for the well-known utterance: “Not one drop of water shall reach the sea without first serving man.”
Today’s politicians in modern Sri Lanka, however, are fighting each other over political territory and self and are least concerned about the needs of people, the land, environment and its preservation.