Most of the ponds along roadsides are none other than entrapped seawater – not good for much of anything. The thought of having access to water only on a weekly basis may be unimaginable. However, this is the hard reality of the situation. The value of what is normally taken for granted is evident as people gather along the roadsides until the water bowser arrives on its weekly or bi-weekly rounds. 

While most NGOs and government institutions are focusing on providing food items for the affected families, many other private organisations are working to provide the much-needed water. By this time, many of the water bowsers have already been rented out for water distribution purposes. Other organisations have called on the average folk in the rest of the island to donate water in any quantities. In one Colombo school, each student has been asked to bring ten one-litre bottles, which will be filled with water and sent to the affected areas, amounting to thousands of litres of water. 

Most people in the drought-stricken areas currently live on several litres of water per day. Now, due to the relief efforts, much of the affected population is able to have access to more water than they did a couple of weeks ago. And with the influx of water donations, there is now an availability of fresh water. However, although bowsers are now able to provide people with the needed water, they have no means of conserving more than several litres. Hence, making these efforts meaningless in making a difference. 

The Department of the Commissioner General of Samurdhi found a lasting solution. The Department has finalised plans to provide tanks with a capacity of 1000 litres to affected villages. 

The Commissioner General of Samurdhi Dr. Kumari Navaratne said, “We selected approximately 120 villages from the four worst affected divisions of Lunugamwehera, Hambantota, Sooriyawawe and Tissamaharama. Depending on the population of these villages we have planned to provide each village with several of these tanks to store the water.”

Navaratne was of the view that this method will not only ease the current water crisis, but will be beneficial in handling the problems that arise in the aftermath of the crisis. Firstly, the people will have access to more water and the means to store a larger quantity of water. Secondly, less time will be wasted by the bowsers having to fill up these tanks as opposed to the many small containers of each family. Finally, less water will be wasted in the filling process. 

Perhaps more important are the long-term benefits of this method. Even in the aftermath of this crisis, these tanks can still be used for storing clean water. Navaratne said, “In the hype of the moment, most of us focus on the short term relief such as food, but tend to overlook the problems that arise later such as the diseases that will appear, especially among the children, when it does start to rain. Even in that situation, these tanks will help to at least provide clean water to the children.”