NWSDB to double capacity of Kelani drinking water plant with 168 m

Sri Lanka’s National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) has contracted French company SUEZ to design and construct the expansion to its Kelani Bank drinking water production plant, near capital city, Colombo.

In a project worth €168 million, the plant capacity will be expanded to treat 360,000 m3/day to supply the population in the north-eastern zone of the city.

The expansion falls in line with the country’s ambitions to prioritise potable water to meet economic development following the restoration of peace in 2009.

As part of the contract, two degremont technologies will be supplied to treat help handle variations in the quality and flowrate of the water.

Pulsatube will be delivered – a clarifier that combines sludge contact clarification, sludge blanket pulsation and lamellar settling. Aquazur will also be provided – a high-speed descending current open sand filter.

The contract also includes the finalisation of a saline barrier to prevent seawater flowing upstream into the river and to protect water resources.

Marie-Ange Debon, Senior Executive VP of SUEZ’s International Division, said: “With this contract and the two others recently signed to strengthen the NWSDB’s institutional capabilities and to supervise work to improve Ambatale’s drinking water treatment plant, SUEZ supports the country’s authorities as they reinforce and modernise their entire water infrastructure.”

SUEZ has been active in the Sri Lanka market for more than 50 years.