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Clean Water Makes Communities Healthier in Sri Lanka
Brian Hatchell, Press Officer, American Red Cross Tsunami Recovery Program
Wednesday, May 31, 2006 — POLHENA, Sri Lanka – For many people, getting a drink of water is as easy as turning on a faucet or grabbing a bottle from the refrigerator, and most people in developed countries don’t think twice about their sanitation system, unless, of course, it’s not working properly.
In Sri Lanka, however, the majority of the country’s 20 million people live in rural communities, and less than 60 percent of the population has access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities. In addition, the tsunami that swept across the coastline in December 2004 destroyed water wells and contaminated many sources of fresh water.
Sriyankanthi Hirimuthugoda of Polhena, Sri Lanka, stands proudly over her family's new well, which has been renovated by the American Red Cross. Polhena is a small beachfront community that was devastated by the December 2004 tsunami.
(Photo Credit: Brian Hatchell/American Red Cross)
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Now, the American Red Cross has partnered with the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society to restore access to safe water and provide proper sanitation facilities for thousands of people in southern Sri Lanka. These are part of efforts by the Red Cross to support communities in their recovery and to address the underlying conditions that existed in some communities even before the tsunami occurred.
In Polhena, a small beachfront community devastated by the tsunami, 36-year-old Sriyankanthi Hirimuthugoda stands proudly over her well, which was newly renovated by the Red Cross. Previously, Sriyankanthi only had access to water two days a week. Today, her rehabilitated well provides an alternative source of clean water that her family can access at anytime.
“I primarily use the well [water] for bathing and to water my flowers and vegetable garden,” says Sriyankanthi. “It has been very helpful…we can use the money we save to buy food or household supplies.”
According to Sriyankanthi, the new well is safer and more efficient than the old one. The higher walls protect against accidents, the lid stops debris from collecting in the well and the pulley system makes it easier to draw water out.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross is helping residents in the neighboring district of Passwella to improve their sanitation systems. Most families in this area use open latrines, while some do not have toilets at all. According to Aaron Brent, a water and sanitation expert with the American Red Cross, this poses a huge health risk.
With support of the American Red Cross, local workers construct the foundation of a new latrine, part of Red Cross efforts to restore water and sanitation systems for tsunami-affected communities in southern Sri Lanka.
(Photo Credit: Brian Hatchell/American Red Cross)
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“If human waste isn’t properly disposed of, it can find its way into the watershed, contaminating groundwater and leading to outbreaks of diarrhea, which can be deadly,” said Brent. “It can also get into ponds and rivers, disrupting the fragile ecosystem and possibly destroying aquatic life, such as fish, crab and shrimp.”
Over the next three years, the American Red Cross plans to rehabilitate 420 wells damaged by saltwater and debris from the tsunami, and to construct another 550 wells for those in need. The Red Cross is also planning to build 400 new toilet and septic systems throughout the south. In addition, volunteers from the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society will form community advisory boards in villages to teach people about the benefits of proper hygiene and good sanitation practices.
Sinathambi Mononmani, 55, used to support her family by selling crafts made of seashells at a tiny stand by the main road to her village. When the tsunami washed away her roadside stand and flooded her property, it also destroyed the family latrine. Things have slowly begun to improve for her. She still sells crafts from her home, and she was one of the first recipients of a new toilet and septic system built by the Red Cross.
“The old latrine had no roof or door to lock. It wasn’t very private, and we didn’t feel safe using it at night,” said Sinathambi. “The Red Cross is helping rebuild our village and making it healthier. The community will be better off than we were before the tsunami.”
Together, these programs will help approximately 19,600 people in Sri Lanka, providing them with access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities, decreasing their exposure to disease, and improving their quality of life for many years to come.
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