Sixty-seven year old J.A. Padmalatha, in Yathdehiwatta happily climbs the mountain every morning to check the level of chlorine in the water treatment unit to ensure that the water is safe for the villagers to consume.  Before USAID support provided them with a water tank and a chlorination unit, the water they drank had high bacteria content. Thanks to people like Padmalatha, the village can now manage the purification of their own water. Read more

This is part of a $600,000 USAID initiative that addressed the immediate needs of flood-affected families.  Using natural spring water, this system pumps water into a cement tank, purifies it, and eventually distributes it to villagers through pipes. This system now has the capacity to supply water to 120 houses, and more in the event of an emergency.  

Each water system is set up in a safe location and the village can support other communities when a disaster strikes. The project works with the the Department of Community Water Supply to train communities to test the quality of the water, fix and replace pipes, maintain pumps, monitor meter readings of households, ensure receipt of payment (a small fee based on levels of consumption), and maintain a transparent bookkeeping process. The project supported the Department to facilitate trainings in order for communities to take the ownership of this water project to ensure sustainability. This way communities can become more resilient and prepared for disasters as they lead and manage water systems.