Project Update
Sanitation
and Well Protection/Decontamination Project
Lanka Academic Network
Tissa H. Illangasekare
January 6, 2005.
Field activities: As the team is currently
in the field, we are not in directly in touch with Champaka Paulis who is
managing the LacNet effort. This update is based on my communication with some
of his associates and other family members who are in touch with him by phone.
We are excepting a more detailed report from Chamapaka very soon after he
returns to Colombo. This is a summary:
- The project got started on Monday, January 3rd.
The supplies were loaded on to two lorries and sent to Thangalla. The
supplies included hardware for temporarily toilets, portable generators
and pumps.
- Thangalla is used as the base for operations in
the area that includes Hamabantota. The Prime Minster’s office arranged
accommodation for the team in a Montessori school.
- By yesterday (Tuesday 5th), 20
toilets have been completed at Tangalla. Champaka estimated about 25
installations per day, but things are moving much slower as direct
supervision was required.
- Thirty wells have been “cleaned” at Thangalla.
The cleaning has taken more time, as the water seems to have an odor. Some
wells had to be pumped 25 times. Until testing is done it may be hard to
say how clean the wells are.
- The plan is to install 18 toilets on January 6th.
It is difficult to give an estimate of the number of wells as it depends
on the specific conditions of the wells and other logistical factors.
LacNet Coordination:
- The funds were transferred to a temporary
Commercial bank account until a LacNet account could be opened.
- With the assistance from many LacNet members and
other technical experts, we were able to get IDEXX laboratories to donate
400 field testing kits to detect Coliform bacteria. These kits were sent through FedEx and
the tracking shows they are still in transit. We have made arrangements
through some contacts to get the test kits through the customs fast.
Geetha Selvendran, was instrumental in getting this operation going. Many
others contributed to this effort both with technical and logistical
issues. Dr. Shorta Yuasa from Boston, MA, has contacted number of other
possible donors for similar kits. We are waiting to see how we could use
these, once we know how the first set worked.
- Geetha also helped to identify Dr. Chandra Kodikara, a faculty member
at University of Kelaniya to help train the volunteers. Our plan is to get
the test kits to local volunteers to go to wells and do periodic testing.
Dr. Karen Villholth a water scientist with the International Water Management Institute
also has offered to help with her technicians. Once the tests are adapted
to field conditions, they will prepare easy to follow instructions to be
used by the volunteers.
- NGO’s in Sri Lanka and other places are aware of
this pilot effort. Once we receive the report from Champaka, we will
inform them of our findings.