International Water Week :

Focus on the precious liquid

by Sajitha PREMATUNGE

The World Water Week organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute ended yesterday, where various significant topics were discussed such as the wise use of land and water resources, balancing competing claims for water, food and energy, rainfall variability and climate change, water and sanitation, improving access to water supply in small towns, water governance, etc... many of which were also applicable in the Sri Lankan setting.

The Stockholm International Water Institute has been focusing the planet’s water issues since 1991. The World Water Week draws attention of all the stakeholders such as policy making, scientific, business and civic communities concerning water related issues for the exchange of their views, concerns and experiences toward water-related challenges and their impact on the world’s environment, health, economic and poverty reduction agendas. By doing so it is expected to start a new thinking, cooperative and positive action to deal with the water related issues.

“There is no water without weather” said Vidya Jyothi Deshamanya Prof.Chris Panabokke. He explained that even before Sri Lanka was affected by climate change, the annual variation of rainfall was somewhere around 9.3 mm, the highest in the world. Moreover he said that the more than the amount of rain the behavioral change within and between seasons is important. “The change of variability of rainfall was the highest in the world even before climate change was even an issue.” This variability has changed so irreparably that past data can no longer be used to predict anomalies.

“Our surpluses and deficiencies will be more marked with the increase of climate change.” Prof. Panabokke cautioned that disregarding the effect that climate change could have on Sri Lanka’s water resources is no longer an option. He pointed out that it is of utmost importance to study water in its natural state.

Prof. Panabokke said that as in any other region of the world deforestation is a major issue that affects not the quantity but the distribution of water. He emphasized that the pattern of variation in precipitation is more important than the lump sum.

Ground water is a significant water source for Sri Lanka, which is unfortunately also very limited, especially in hard rock regions like Jaffna and in ‘coastal sand’ areas like Nilaveli and Kalpitiya. An ever increasing exertion is applied on this limited and precious resource by coning - shooting of brackish water - and over utilization. He emphasized that human consumptions needs should always be given priority over agriculture, when considering ground water requirements.

Wijerathne Bohingamuwa, Department of History and Archaeology, University of Ruhuna, also explained that during the ancient times water stored or diverted from the rivers - other than agriculture - was used for dirking, animal husbandry, sanitation and even for the beautification of the gardens,.

Another issue discussed in the International Water Week, that Sri Lanka can also relate to was improving access to water supply in small towns.

Bohingamuwa explained that the failure to bring about a sustainable solution to the world water issues such as providing sufficient and unpolluted water for the purpose of drinking, agricultural and other requirements of the people hampers the prospects for billions of people locked in a cycle of poverty and disease. The UN Millennium Project Task Force on Water and Sanitation also recognizes the significance of integrated development and management of water resources for achieving the millennium development goals as water is central to the livelihood systems of the poor.

Prof. Panabokke pointed out that tube wells were a huge boon in combating this issue, almost 30% of which are no longer in use. “Hard rock regions are the problem areas” said Prof. Panabokke.

He pointed out that the issue of access to water supply affects mostly the dry zone, where water quantity is limited especially during the dry season.

“Our ancient irrigation system is like nothing else in the world, even from irrigation systems in the Deccan” he further illustrated the subject saying that the ancient Sri Lankan irrigation system was developed on a hard rock basement and not alluvials.

He explained that rather than large dams small dams are more suitable for a country like Sri Lanka.

Smaller dams augment and stabilize the ground water table.Speaking of the strategies and the practices of water conservation and management of the ancient hydraulic civilization of Sri Lanka, Bohingamuwa, said: “The focus of World Water Day 2009 is on sharing water, sharing opportunities. This is a great opportunity for us to draw our attention to the gravity of the issue of the day. It will be better if we focus our attention more towards our own ancient methods which we easily tend not to give due consideration.

Bohingamuwa explained that the Ancient Civilization of Sri Lanka, generally speaking, came up in the ancient Rajarata region, has frequently been termed as a Hydraulic Civilization.

This is because the irrigation and water management system that lasted until the end of 12th century AD or so brought about all the glory and the prosperity that we see in terms of archaeological marvels.

“The economic basis that provided the foundation for undertaking such a huge task was provided by the effective and sustainable water management system of ancient Sri Lanka.”

As Bohingamuwa pointed out Henry Parker says it best, “In Pre- Christian times the Ceylonese had attained the knowledge of controlling the water of streams.

Extensive works of irrigation secured with immense labour, skill and science had transformed the arid plains in to prosperity at a period when Europe was in the rudest and most primitive state”.

And as King Maha Parakrambahu said one of the most ancient principles of water conservation and utilization as practices have been to ‘not let even a drop of rain water escape to the sea without benefiting the people of my land’.

Culavamsa records he constructed or restored 165 dams, 3910 canals, 163 major tanks and 2376 minor tanks, including his greatest legacy the Parakrama Samudra, with an embankment 8 1/2 miles long and rising to a height of 40 feet.

Bohingamuwa explained that Sri Lanka is a pioneering nation that thought of conserving and making best use of the rain water.

“But the trouble this nation has is that we have forgotten our own roots, our own principles and methods of water management and conservation.” He further explained that human societies progressed by trial and error and therefore they are based on accumulated knowledge of the past. “Knowledge of ancient science and technology might save a lot of time we waste to rediscover them.”

He explained that Sri Lanka’s tanks are beautifully distributed in the cascades one below the other conserving water and soil and most effectively utilizing water and also giving due consideration to maintaining the ecosystem equilibrium.

The minor irrigation system had been the mainstay of early days. They were so many that each village had one or more, owned by the individual, family or by the villagers, who felt the ownership and belongings and the water was in a way sacred.

Looking after of the tank and conserving the water was their sacred duty.All in all as Prof. Panabokke pointed out an International Water Week would sensitize the minds of the people and pull them out of their complacency.

Water resources management is an individual responsibility. So turn off those taps when not required, reduce the volume of your toilet flush. Water is a life giving resource, but it should not be taken for granted.