This situation prevails in areas receiving supplies from the Kethhena water filtration plant. They are Wadduwa, Waskaduwa, Pothupitiya, Kalutara North and South, Katukurunda, Nagoda, Payagala, Philominawatte, Bombuwala, Maggona, Beruwala, Kaluwamodara, Moragalla, Aluthgama, Dharga Town and Bentota, water supplied to other areas is pure and safe for drinking.
The statement said contamination of salt water is a natural phenomenon when there is a decrease in the river water level. But as a responsible institution, the NWSDB could not stop supplies altogether because water supply is a fundamental right of the people.Although drinking salt mixed water was not harmful to the body, it is unpleasant and insufficient to prevent thirst. However almost 90 percent of water supplies were used for washing and other chores while less than 10% was used for drinking and cooking.
The NWSDB decided to release water supplies to enable people attending to their daily chores without prescribing the drinking of saline water. The Board had also arranged to distribute safe drinking water through bowsers and station tanks at various points, the statement said.