Three years after the tsunami, many people in Sri Lanka’s Southern Province still have poor access to safe water. UNICEF is using both high-tech and low-tech approaches to improve the situation. At Tangalle a water treatment plant is being built, while in Galle and Matara districts water testing kits have been distributed and simple household treatment methods are being promoted.

School children are among those who have been taught to use the kits, which test the bacteriological quality of drinking water. The kits use chemicals that turn a contaminated water sample black and give off an unpleasant, sulphurous smell. In Matara District 1,000 families have used the kit.

What to do if the water contaminated is explained in an animated cartoon called ‘Meena, My Water Is Safe’. The animation, which is part of a widespread educational effort in the region, explains that the water can still be used as long as it’s treated effectively, for example by solar disinfection or boiling.

See a video report [2 min 35 sec]: high bandwidth | low bandwith

Contact: Suranga De Silva, Project Officer, UNICEF, Southern Province, UNICEF, Sri Lanka, sudesilva@unicef.org

Source: Francis Mead, UNICEF, Dec 2007

Tags: emergencies, water quality