GGT Chandrathilake1, Buddhika de Silva2

1 Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka

2 Keselwatta, Panadura, Sri Lanka

In the past, Tamil workers on tea plantations - depended on the management of the estate for all their basic needs.

In 1992, the plantation industry was privatized plantation companies claim they cannot afford social

welfare programmes (Van & Anita, 1998). District and Provincial government programmes for

housing, water supply & sanitation, health care & education in the village sector do not reach the estate communities.

As a result of that Plantation workers are among the most economically deprived

Therefore the most vulnerable to disease and ill-health.

To evaluate the present status of drinking water supply schemes in tea estate sector in Sri Lanka.

Typical line room arrangement at Telbedda Estate

One Stand Post shared by few Households

A public well in poor condition

Distribution pipes and water leaks

Toilet facilities

located in Badulla DSD, Badulla District, Uva Province of Sri Lanka.

central hills of the country.

estate is 684.98 ha elevation varies 1470

m- to 750 m. cool weather

condition prevalent,

Red-yellow podsolic soils; Steeply dissected, hilly and rolling terrain The coldest month - January and the hottest -

August. The average daily temperature - 25.2°C. The area falls into the intermediate zone (IU 3) Avg. annual rainfall of 2000 mm-recorded- anr is

2041 mm February - - driest month of the year March - April and October-November-December are

the two season with heavy rain falls. 30% wet dates and thereby the average

proportion of dry days is 70%.

1. Westmorland Division of Thelbadda EstateScheme 1: Field No 4 Aattupattie sideScheme 2: Poomarathi line sectionScheme 3: Field No 2 Mettu line side

2. Cobo Division of Thelbedda EstateScheme 1: FNo.21Scheme 2: Field No. 1Scheme 3: FNo. 6C & 11B

3. Malangamuwa Division of Thelbadda EstateScheme 1: Field No. 6 Scheme 2: Field No. 1B Muster sideScheme 3: Field No.1C - Ground line side Scheme 4: Field No 1C – Line Room No.3

water sources; Intakes; storage tanks; pipe lines; pump stations; stand posts, etc. were thoroughly studied.

Catchment type & area, water flow quantity & quality (visual),

water treatment methods & house hold level usage & wastewater disposal methods also studied.

Health State regard to water-borne dieses in the scheme collected from the Estate Medical Officer

Climatic data (rainfall) also incorporated.

Evaluation of Water Supply, Wastewater and Solid Waste Disposal in Estate Sector

Estate RoadWater Supply Schemes – Lower Division of Telbedda Estate

Schematic Diagrams of the Water Supply Schemes

Figure 2 - Schematic Diagram of the Water Supply Scheme

Most of the water schemes are based on open water (single) sources in which water is harvested for supply through gravity

Basically from surface water bodies, few dug wells The catchments are mostly under tea plantation or

with a small scrubland. The high flows as 2 m3/min (during heavy rains) and

low flows of around 0.075 m3/min in dry periods. Water flow is perennial (70%), seasonal (10%), in

some cases intermittent (20%) Catchments are within the estate Tea fields, abandon lands, fuel wood plantations,

vegetable fields are the identified ground cover Risk with agro-chemicals and pesticide

Quality of the stream water is very low, high in turbidity, muddy colour, specially in rainy days.

no objectionable taste. The weirs are made of rubble masonry work

provide sufficient clear head and small water pool to extract water from the stream.

No intake chamber that prevents blockage of inlet due to siltation.

Intake pipes, storage tanks and distribution lines are in poor condition, thus water overflows and with risk of contamination.

The distribution system does not include valves for control and water loss is about 10% through the leaks.

Also other essential components for proper supply as washouts are not provided in the system.

There is no proper maintenance of the system. No treatment is provided to the raw water before

distribution, boiling of consumptive water is not practiced in general.

The entire population is served using stand posts. Approximately one stand posts is available for 2-

2.5 households.

Water Storage at Household Level

Division Type of source (surface/ ground)

Perennial/Non-perennial

Water Quality

1. Westmorland

Stream (surface) Non-perennial Good

Stream (surface) Perennial Good

Stream (surface) Intermitent Good

2. Cobo

Spring (groundwater) Perennial Not Good, High Turbidity

Groundwater Well Non-perennial Not Good, High Turbidity

Stream (surface) Perennial Good

3. Malangama

Spring (groundwater) Perennial Good

Spring (groundwater) Perennial Good

Stream (surface) Perennial Not Good, High Turbidity

Seepage Water Perennial Not Good, High Turbidity

Since the water sources are located in the tea plantations, extensive application of agrochemicals, inadequate toilet facilities for working communities, improper solid waste and waste water discharge are the

identified risk factors for the water sources.

Water is very likely to be contaminated by human activities. Improper design of wires, storage tanks, distribution system, and water stored at households

To prevent water based diseases and ill health of estate communities following are needed;

Monitoring of water quality,

providing of systematically designed water supply schemes

with adequate healthcare and sanitary facilities are highly advisable for the estate community in order to secure their living condition.

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