Public urged to use water sparingly amid dry weather

2026-03-26 - 07:44

The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has urged the public to use water sparingly amid the prevailing dry weather conditions. Noting that water consumption has increased significantly due to the dry conditions across the island, the NWSDB warns that continued dry weather could lead to restrictions in water distribution if demand continues to rise. NWSDB Chairman – Chandana Bandara has said that Ambatale can produce up to 560,000 cubic metres of water per day, while Labugama has a capacity of 150,000 cubic metres, adding that production is already operating at maximum levels. We are producing and distributing water at full capacity across the country. If the drought persists and demand keeps rising, there could be difficulties in maintaining supply,” he said. “We are not asking people to stop using water, but to use it carefully. Minimise wastage. Otherwise, areas at higher elevations and the tail-end of pipelines may experience low pressure,” Bandara added. He also highlighted growing concern over saltwater intrusion into rivers, particularly at river mouths, adding that plans are underway to construct salinity barriers across major rivers, with work already in progress on a barrier along the Kelani River. “Saltwater mixing has increased significantly and has become a major issue. Human activities such as sand mining have worsened the situation, along with rising temperatures,” he said.