Colombo sewerage system streamlined

by Ranil Wijayapala

The Colombo Municipal Council under the guidance and assistance of the Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry has commenced the improvement of sewerage network, the pumping stations and outfalls in the Colombo city under an Asian Development Bank assisted project, Colombo Municipal Council Special Commissioner Omar Kamil said.

The Project involves repair, cleaning and reconstruction of two sea outfalls, installation of fine screens, grit removal equipment and plant to provide safe disposal of screenings and grit and rehabilitation of 7 existing and construction of 4 new sewerage pumping stations in CMC area and partial refurbishment of 6 existing pumping stations under NWSDB.

It will also include the provision of 10 Km new sewerage lines for the unsewered areas of the Colombo city, Kamil added.

The projects will also include laying, repair or reconstruction of necessary gravity and pumping sewers and separation of storm water drains from sewerage network.

The Project will also support technical, financial and operational reforms in CMC to make it an efficient and effective wastewater service provider and to ensure sustainability of sewerage operations.

Under this project several wastewater pumping stations belonging to the National Water Supply and Drainage Board which are connected to the Colombo network too, will be renovated.

International consultants will undertake the design work and also systems which will enhance the capacity of the Drainage Division of the Municipal Engineering Department and the council in general.

Accordingly M/s SMEC International Pvt. Ltd of Australia has been selected as the Consultants to carry out the assessment, design, supervision and construction management of the sewerage infrastructure in Colombo and also some suburban areas.