21-hour water cut in parts of Colombo on Saturday (10); plant capacities to be increased
Several areas in Colombo, Sri Lanka, will experience a 21-hour water cut on Saturday (10) due to improvements to be carried out at the Ambatale water plant aimed at increasing water capacity, a National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said.
Media reports said Colombo 01, 02, 03, 07, 08, 09, 10, and 11 will see water supply interrupted for 21-hours from 9:00 AM Saturday (July 10) to 6:00 AM on Sunday (11), while water will be supplied under low-pressure conditions to Colombo 04 and 12.
One of two plants that provide water to greater Colombo are Ambathale Kelani river plant and Biyagama Kelani.
“We are going to connect another 50,000 cubic metre pipe supply to Ambathale water treatment plant from Biyagama,” NWSDB Additional General Manager (Western Province) Chrishan Fernando told EconomyNext Thursday (08).
“These days we have spare capacity at Biyagama, so we are going to connect it to our Ambatalaya plant. This will increase the current capacity.”
At present Ambathale produces around 550,000 cubic metres per day so by adding new pipelines it will be increased to 600,000.
“This is will on average 60,000 cubic metres per day,” said Fernando.