Browsing by Author "Wijesinghe, L."

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Assessment of current public sanitation status and demand calculation to enhance public sanitation facilities in an urban town: A study from Kegalle,Sri Lanka
(2018) Bellanthudawa, B. K. A.; Wijesinghe, L.; Darshana, W. D.; Jayasooriya, J. M. S. N.; Sundarapperuma, S. R. Y. S. S.B.; Nawalage, N. M. S. K.; Senanayake, R.; Thotagodawaththa, T. M. C. D. B.
Urban sanitation demands prior consideration in a developing city with tourists’ destinations. As Kegalle town attracts many local and foreign visitors, it is vital to maintain proper quality sanitation. Therefore, the present study focused on the assessment of status and demand calculation of public sanitation in Kegalle township as a baseline. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted using random sampling technique to assess current sanitation status and public view, while direct interviews of key informants and focus group discussions with public health section of Kegalle Urban Council (UC) were conducted to evaluate the demand analysis for improvement of public sanitation. Data analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel 2013 software to compare the responses in graphical presentations. Five major public toilets were examined under the authority of Kegalle UC. According to the total respondents (n=115) interviewed, (56.6%) were regular users and the rest were using public toilets rarely or not using. Among the users 59.3% were men while 40.7% were women. 94% of respondents stated that uncleanliness, bad odor and low safety as the main issues associated with public toilets, while (6%) stated no reasons for refusing the public toilets. Majority (86.9%) showed that, they are unsatisfied with criteria like existing uncleanliness in cleaning process, water supply in toilets, proximity and security in available public toilets in Kegalle town area. 60.2% stated that, the existing public toilet complexes do not meet the standards with poor or very poor sanitation quality. 81.4% responded that the available toilets are insufficient. 71.4 % clearly mentioned that there is a necessity for the construction of new public toilet complexes close to the bus stops and common shopping market in Kegalle town. As the sanitation preferences, 50% ensured that their preference is on squatting pans over commodes (43.9%) and other modes. In the demand calculation, a total of 175,200 users were recorded per year and 480 average number of users per day, which conclusively revealed a demanding need for a new latrine complex to enhance and ensure the sanitation facilities in Kegalle town. Uncleanliness raised due to improper solid waste management practices, bad odor, insufficiency in water supply, insecurity and charges were the main issues associated with present toilets in Kegalle area. Additionally, installation of CCTV cameras for the safety, intense cleaning at peak hours and awareness on proper sanitary and hygiene practices through a display were proposed.
Determination of potentials for safe drinking water supply using present socio-economic criteria in a rural sector, Kegalle District, Sri Lanka
(4th International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Bellanthudawa, B. K. A.; Nawalage, N. M. S. K.; Handapangoda, H. M. A. K.; Wijesinghe, L.; Silva, R. N. S.; Rathnayaka, R. M. J. B.; Shifan, M. S. M.; Pinnagoda, P. A. D. C.; Rathnayaka, R. M. C. Y.; Lansakara, L. M. A. P.
Evaluation and monitoring of existing socio economic status is vital for the improvement of water supply and sanitation especially in rural scale. This serves as a driven tool to understand and identify rural scale geographic locations in developing nations where there is less access to water supply, water consumption, hygiene and sanitation. The present study was carried out in Hakbellawaka GND in Kegalle District, Sri Lanka with the objective of identifying socio-economic conditions and potentials for the improvement of water supply and sanitation. A questionnaire survey was followed by selecting 100 houses randomly to explore the socio-economic background and water consumption pattern. In socio-economic analysis, (85%) of Sinhalese and (78%) of families were headed by females. The entire sampled population was a mixed economic based population, in which forty-two (42%) of people earned monthly income of LKR.10000-20000 and only (3%) of people earned above LKR 50,000. Water consumption and sanitation patterns showed that (85%) of the households had water sealed lavatories. Furthermore, (34%) depended on community based water supply schemes and (14%) used private protected wells. Considering safe drinking water consumption (92%) people used boiling and filtration via cloth filters as purification methods. Ninety five (95%) respondents were unsatisfied with present water sources due to inadequate quantity and quality. Therefore, they expected an improvement of the existing water supply facilities. Hence the satisfactory majority of the respondents (96%) showed the willing to acquire new water connection and to pay a monthly water bill. Seventy two percent (72%) of mentioned that water is insufficient during dry seasons and causes to reduce the water quality. Conclusively, the study revealed that low economic status among villagers at present. In addition, criteria such as less access to treated water, high demand for treated pipe water, insufficiency in water facilities and willingness to pay the water bill highlighted the importance and potential for uplifting the safe drinking water facilities. Hence, a new drinking water supply scheme with treatment plant is proposed in order to minimize the issues of quantitative and qualitative drinking water
Identification and evaluation of current socio-economic conditions for improvement of water supply and sanitation in rural areas in tropical regions;A study from Sri Lanka
(Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, 2018 Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2018) Bellanthudawa, B. K. A.; Wijesinghe, L.; Darshana, W. D.; Jayasooriya, J. M. S. N.; Sundarapperuma, S. R. Y. S. S. B.; Kumara, S. D. K. S.; Nawalage, N. M. S. K.; Samaradiwakara, T. C. B.
Empowering the water supply and sanitation is a concern in Sri Lanka.Thus, present study was carried out on Anhettigama area in Deraniyagala Divisional Secretariat Division (DSD) in Kegalle District to identify the socio-economic status in the study area for implementing a water supply and sanitation improvement project and identify crucial issues to implement water supply. A semi-structured questionnaire survey was conducted for households (n=50) for assessing the social-demographic and economic background of the community through random sampling technique in project impact area. Data analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel 2013 software to compare the responses in graphical presentations. Majority (92%) indicated that their livelihood pattern as mixed economic. 86% of the families were headed by males whereas 14% families were headed by females in the project area. Project impact area was composed of 83% Sinhalese and 17% Tamil families. In terms of water consumption patterns, 34% of houses used existing “Suhada” water supply scheme and 66% fulfilled their water requirement from private protected and unprotected wells located within their premises. Surface well water usage was 32%, which was not safe unless subjected to disinfection before drinking. 72% of the respondents mentioned that water was insufficient during dry seasons, which may reduce the water quality as well. Majority of the respondents (92%) mentioned that they were not satisfied with their present water supply scheme. Since current drinking water has not undergone any treatment method, 96% people used domestic purification methods such as artificial filtering and boiling. About 84.9% of the households had proper sanitation facilities while 9.2% of the people did not have toilets. Out of these 84.9%, 50% accounted for water sealed toilets with cistern and 34.9% accounted for water sealed toilets without cistern. Since the current water supply was insufficient, 97% people were willing to pay a monthly water bill. 16% of households received the government food subsidy of Samurdhi given for households living below the official poverty line with regards to economy. 35% of the people were involved in professions in the private sector, 26% in agriculture, 12% were government employees while unemployed population was 5%. In conclusion, there is a necessity and high demand for pipe borne water, sanitation and economic development. Incorporation of a water supply and sanitation improvement project is a sustainable solution.
Study of potential risks in a rural water supply scheme for a sustainable development of a Water Safety Plan (WSP): a case study of Madola Community Water Supply Scheme (RWSS), Sri Lanka
(4th International Research Symposium on Pure and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2019) Bellanthudawa, B. K. A.; Nawalage, N. M. S. K.; Hadapangoda, H. K. A. K.; Buddhika, G. N.; Rajapaksha, P.; Wijesinghe, L.; Shifan, M. S. M.; Silva, R. N. S.; Rathnayaka, R. M. J. B.; Lansakara, L. A. M. P.; Pinnagodac, P. A. D. C.; Rathnayaka, R. M. C. Y.
Developing a Water safety plan (WSP) involves undertaking risk assessment at each step of Rural Water Supply Schemes (RWSS). This approach ensures the safe access to drinking water from catchment to consumer and sustainability of operation of RWSS. Hence, the present study was conducted in Madola Grama Niladhari Division (GND) in Kegalle District, Sri Lanka, with the objective of studying potential risks in the water supply scheme to develop a sustainable WSP. A semi quantitative risk assessment was followed from 02-07-2018 to 09-07-2018 to identify and prioritize all potential hazardous in each component of the existing RWSS from catchment to water distribution. Criteria such as significance, magnitude and frequency of occurrence were considered when ranking the risk level of hazards with regards to low, medium and high scales. Thereby, potential hazards in each component of RWSS were subjected to proper decision making by suitable mitigation measures towards water conservation. The semi quantitative assessment reveal that (15%) of high risk hazardous, (25%) of moderate risk hazardous and sixty (60%) low risk hazardous were observed. Further, high risk hazardous sources were recognized as sewage contaminations from wild animals from catchment, possibility of access of animal and illegal entering of people and contamination through breakings of distribution network. Stability of intake well foundation, operational failures of distribution network, failures of storage tanks, knowledge gaps of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices were identified as medium risk hazards while deforestation, surface runoff, soil erosion and chemical contamination by agricultural activities and insufficiency of water were the potent low risk sources in the catchment. As recommendations, immediate actions are required to construct barrier/fence in intake structure, catchment protection activities such as tree planting, community awareness on proper agricultural and soil conservation within micro catchments and rehabilitation of storage tanks/pipe network are highlighted. Furthermore, enhancing knowledge and awareness on (WASH) practices of people, proper operation and maintenance programs measures can be applied to minimize identified hazards. Thus, it is important to follow the WSP of Madola RWSS to maintain the long-term viability of rehabilitation activities