• Supply of water for agriculture and drinking at risk
• Power cut-induced water cuts ongoing: NWSDB
• Water Board sub-pump stations lack back-up generators
• There is adequate water: Mahaweli Authority

By Maheesha Mudugamuwa In the midst of one of the worst economic crises experienced by the country, Sri Lankans are now at risk of experiencing prolonged water cuts due to the alleged release of water from reservoirs for hydro-power generation, The Sunday Morning learns.  The Sunday Morning learnt that water was still being released from some reservoirs even on Friday (25) to produce hydropower in order to meet the demand from the national grid. The water levels in all reservoirs have already dropped to very low levels, prompting the PUCSL to issue an order banning its use for power generation earlier this month, with the aim of preserving water.  The continued use of water for power generation comes as some parts of the island are forced to endure daily power cuts lasting several hours.  The worst affected are the districts in the Central Province as water levels of the reservoirs situated in the central hills have now declined to extremely low levels, posing a huge threat to the ability of supplying water for drinking and agricultural purposes.  However, National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Regional Support Centre (Central) Deputy General Manager Eng. W.G.C.L. Weerasekara said water cuts experienced in the Central Province were due to the existing power cuts and not because of a water shortage.  “We have to stop pumping when there are power cuts as we don’t have generators for all our plants. We have generators only for major plants but not for sub plants. Therefore, during power cuts we can’t pump water,” he stressed. Explaining further, Eng. Weerasekara noted that when there was a power cut for around three hours, it took another six hours to bring the water levels to the expected level for pumping purposes. “We have already requested the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) to provide an uninterrupted power supply, but it seems like it is also not in a position to practically execute it. Also, even if we have generators, the diesel issue is there,” he said, adding that due to all these unavoidable circumstances, the Board sometimes had to go for water cuts. Highlighting the water levels in reservoirs in the central hills, Eng. Weerasekara stressed that usually during dry spells, the water levels decreased. “During the dry season, water levels decrease and that has already happened in reservoirs in the central hills also. But we are managing with the existing water levels.” Nevertheless, a senior official attached to the NWSDB raised concerns over the releasing of water from reservoirs that already had very low levels of water for hydro-power generation. As at last Wednesday (23), the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has generated 3.56 GWh from Laxapana Hydro Complex, 2.53 GWh from Mahaweli, and 1.31 GWh from Samanala Hydro Complex. The mini hydro power plants have also generated a total of 0.37 GWh. Accordingly, 15.7% of the total energy requirement has been generated by hydropower while the thermal oil contribution from CEB-owned plants stood at 21.83% as of last Wednesday. While the decreasing water levels have raised concerns over drinking water availability, farmer unions have warned the authorities to be very cautious about utilising the existing water storages in reservoirs.  Speaking to The Sunday Morning, All Ceylon Farmers Federation (ACFF) President Namal Karunaratne said even if the reservoirs had enough water for yala season cultivation, utilisation should be done very cautiously during the dry season.  “Even if the farmers have water, they have informed the authorities not to release water for yala cultivation as the other conditions are not favourable for cultivation,” he said, adding that the farmers had already been affected by the existing fertiliser and fuel shortages and therefore, even if they did receive water, they could not go ahead with cultivation. “Most farmers are uncertain of whether they should go ahead with cultivations in the yala season,” Karunaratne stressed. He noted that the issue concerning water would have had a wider impact if the farmers had gone ahead with their usual cultivations but since there had been a massive reduction in cultivations, they had no problems with regard to water at present. Meanwhile, when contacted by The Sunday Morning, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka Water Management Secretariat Director Eng. D.M.N.J. Dhanapala said the current water levels of Mahaweli reservoirs such as Kotmale, Victoria, and Randenigala and tanks such as Bowatenna, Moragahakanda, and Kalawewa were not a new phenomenon as every year during this period the water levels drop to the usual low reported this year as well.     “We are releasing water for the requirements that were discussed at the committee which represents members from the Irrigation Department, CEB, NWSDB, and Mahaweli Authority. The decisions with regard to the releasing of water are taken considering the present water availability,” he said. Eng. Dhanapala went on to say that there was adequate water for drinking and agricultural purposes as well. “There is no huge problem. The present water levels at Kotmale are the levels reported in the same period last year. This is not a new thing. This is the dry period in Nuwara Eliya, therefore the water levels are going down. We are issuing water for hydro power generation. Mahaweli is providing water for hydro power, drinking water, and agriculture, as well as for industrial purposes. Therefore, as of now there is no big issue,” he added. Water storage levels at present According to the Irrigation Department, the water storage of Kotmale, Victoria, Randenigala, Rantambe, Bowatenna, and Moragahakanda under Mahaweli is at 20.9%, 35.1%, 58.5%, 11.2%, 73.9%, and 74.2% respectively. The storage levels of Castlereagh and Maussakele are at 15.1% and 29.8% while in Samanalawewa and Udawalawe they are at 12% and 89.4%.  Meanwhile, Dambulu Oya, Kandalama, Kalawewa, Rajanganaya, Nachchaduwa, Nuwarawewa, Huruwewa, Giritale, Minneriya, Kantale, Kaudulla, and Parakrama Samudraya have above 50% of water storage, except for Tissawewa which has only 39.9%. Most of these reservoirs have water storage levels exceeding 70%. As observed by The Sunday Morning, water levels have dropped in all macro systems including the hydro-power reservoirs. Even if water levels of irrigation systems remain high, the water level in the reservoirs used to generate electricity is rapidly declining due to the severe dry weather conditions that have affected the entire country. The water level in Castlereagh Reservoir has dropped to 13.41 metres from the overflow level and the maximum water level in the reservoir that has to be available for power generation is 19 metres to the overflow level. The remaining volume of water can generate 15.7 GWh, which is 16.5% of the total capacity of Castlereagh Reservoir. The water level in Maussakele Reservoir has dropped to 12.84 metres from the overflow level and the maximum water level that needs to generate power is 22.4 metres from the overflow level. The remaining volume of water can generate 87.7 GWh of electricity, which is 30.9% of the total capacity of the Maussakele Reservoir. The water level of Samanalawewa Reservoir has dropped to 23.24 metres from the overflow level and the maximum water level in the reservoir can be lowered only up to 31 metres from the overflow level. Accordingly, the water volume of Samanalawewa Reservoir can generate 23.24 GWh of electricity and it is 16.3% of the total capacity. It is reported that the water levels of the Kotmale Reservoir, Victoria Reservoir, and Randenigala Reservoir belonging to the Mahaweli Complex have also dropped. Active/effective water storage of Mahaweli, Kelani and Walawe schemes  Kotmale 20.9% Victoria 35.1%  Randenigala 58.5% Rantembe  11.2% Bowatenna 73.9% Moragahakanda 74.2% Castlereagh 15.1% Maussakele 29.8% Samanalawewa 12.0% Uda Walawe 89.4%