Protect precious water

World Water Day has increased in importance to Sri Lankans because they are in the midst of the worst drought in 40 years. Drought is the most serious of natural disasters because its prolonged progress means that people lose their livelihoods over an extended period of time. Drought causes an exponential rise in poverty, food insecurity and other related vulnerabilities that are often inadequately addressed by Governments. 

Sri Lankans, long used to an abundance of water because of the technological advances of our ancestors, uses water extensively for agriculture. In fact a larger share of water is used to produce a kilo of paddy in Sri Lanka than almost anywhere else in the world. Agriculture, despite employing the largest number of people, remains the lowest contributor to Sri Lanka’s GDP, behind services and industry and this lack of productivity has kept the industry hobbled for decades. Efforts to introduce more advanced methods of farming including drought resistance crops, faster maturing seed varieties and improving market linkages have been largely successful.   

This combination creates the perfect storm. Agriculture experts have pointed out that the present situation faced by Sri Lanka is actually the result of a series of droughts that have affected crucial catchment areas and gradually reduced water for farming over the last several years. This also means that hydro power, which was the mainstay for locals, has also reduced as a percentage of electricity generation. Reliance on coal and thermal power is not just more expensive, it also results in more pollution, which leads to lower standards of life and ultimately more extreme weather conditions.   

Climate change is the biggest threat to water security. But like climate mitigation methods, the rest of the world has moved to embrace policies that protect their limited natural resources. Sri Lanka is comparatively densely populated and is increasingly losing its forest cover because of low density housing, poor agrarian practices and bad Government policy. Corruption has also played a strong role in allowing illegal deforestation to happen around the country. Wildlife officials are inadequately trained and provided few resources to carry out their duties. Political patronage of wrongdoers has meant the forests have no protectors and the rivers are diverted for mini-hydro projects, often destroying the fragile ecosystems they feed. 

Perhaps the most damaging Government laxity is on garbage collection and management. It took two years for the present Government to call for tenders and give out projects that turn garbage into electricity. Large scale garbage separation that was started with much effort has already lapsed in some areas where the refuse separated by home owners is mixed again by the municipalities. Setting up large scale recycling plants countrywide would be embraced by Sri Lankans who are already aware of the damage caused to water systems by garbage. In fact Sri Lanka is also guilty of being a significant polluter of its seas as garbage in coastal areas usually gets dumped along the seashore, destroying a precious natural resource.  

Sri Lanka also lags behind in banning single use plastics, particularly plastic bags, lunch sheets and plastic bottles, which often find their way to water sources when thrown out. The Government has mulled setting up “polluter pays” taxing systems that hold importers and excessive users of plastic such as beverage manufacturing companies responsible but they are unlikely to be rolled out speedily or consistently. The leaves the public to take the initiative in protecting water, for themselves and the future.