Water Supply Restoration Underway Across Colombo and Gampaha

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) says measures have been taken to restore water supply within the next few hours to areas in Colombo and Gampaha where distribution was temporarily suspended following a sudden water quality concern in the Kelani River.

The Board said the emergency situation that affected water quality at the Kelani River intake point has now been resolved with the assistance of the Tri-Forces.

As a result, operations have commenced to resume water distribution from the Ambatale and Kelani South Bank Water Treatment Plants, which were temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure.

The NWSDB said the decision to restart distribution was taken after laboratory tests were conducted in line with recommendations made by the Disaster Management Centre. The tests confirmed that the water quality complied with the required standards for distribution.

According to the Board, water supply within the Colombo city limits is already returning to normal, while supply to other affected areas is expected to be restored over the next few hours.

However, the NWSDB cautioned that areas including Battaramulla, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Pamankada and Nugegoda could experience delays before water supply returns fully to normal.

Water supply was halted around midnight yesterday after authorities detected a sudden issue affecting water quality near the Kelani River intake point amid suspicions that a chemical substance may have entered the water source. The precautionary suspension was implemented to ensure public safety while comprehensive water quality assessments were carried out.