MARCH 11, 2010 EST, USA
 
 
VOL. 10, NO. 339
 
Sanitation and Well Protection/Decontamination Project Diary

The following is a chronology of LAcNet-sponsored "Sanitation and Well Protection/Decontamination Project", carried out using the funds raised at The Lanka Academic. This effort is led by Champaka Paulis, and coordinated by Professor Tissa Illangasekare of Colorado School of Mines. LAcNet Project Liaison: Thilaka Sumanaweera.
  1. January 30, 2005, PST: Professor Tissa Illangasekare writes: I spoke with Chapaka yesterday. This is an up-date:
    1. They are continuing well cleaning in Trinco area. About 100 wells have been disinfected and pumped. A data base is kept on the wells (the data sheet was posted earlier).
    2. Dr. Villholth has visited the locations few times to assist with technical issues.
    3. The well cleaning kits are with IWMI and the technicians are testing them and calibrating to be used in the field. The plan is to use them in drinking water wells.
    4. They are worried about distributing Cl tablets as people may swallow them thinking they have medicinal value. Champaka thinks someone needs to provide an education program. I suggested to give the tablets to rural hospitals and dispensaries so that they are used by trained people.
    5. They have spent about Rs 300,000. They are planning to buy a hand held salinity probe with the funds. They are really in need of a GPS that is not available in Sri Lanka.
    6. I am going to SRi Lanka on February 8th with a small team of groundwater experts to asses the groundwater situation. In March I will take larger group. This travel is funded by the NSF. I am taking a donated salinity probe valued about $8000 with me to the field. I will leave this with IWMI to be used in the well project.
    7. I will report to LacNet my findings and see how you could use the additional funds collected for this project.

  2. January 18, 2005, PST: Champaka Paulis writes: On completion of Phase I work at Tangalle, we have commenced cleaning of wells in Trincomalee area in towns: Nalandapura, Kinniya and Nilawelli as Phase II. We have cleaned 40 wells to date, following observed. [More ...]

  3. January 14, 2005, PST: Dr. Tissa Illangasekare writes: The fieldwork in Thangalla area has been completed. This was reported earlier. Only additional information I received was that even though toilet installation was very successful earlier, later issue related to land disputes came up and the task had to be curtailed. Champaka was in the Trincomalee area where he is focusing on dewatering salinated wells. Our local collaborator, Dr. Karen Villholth from IWMI was with him during this trip to assess the situation to continue this work with her organization. [More ...]


  4. The map of the general area where work for the Phase I was carried out.

  5. January 10, 2005, PST: Champaka Paulis writes: On 3rd January 2005 the logistics for the operation were arranged and left Colombo by 1700 hrs. The convoy of two crane trucks and three vans carrying 22 volunteers and material reached Tangalle by 0400 Hrs 04th January due to very poor road conditions. [More ...]

  6. January 7, 2005, PST: Dr. Tissa Illangasekare writes: The project proceeded mostly as planned with toilet installation and well cleaning. But, some modifications had to be made as the situation changed from day to day in the field. The need for temporary toilets varied form place to place. The displaced people started to find other accommodation and temporary toilets were not needed at some places. Instead, semi-permanent toilets were installed where they had longer-term needs. [More ...]

  7. January 6, 2005, PST: Varuni Jayamaha, UK writes: DHL UK, has offered to freight the 70,000 litres of Water Purification Tablets free of charge directly to Champika. LAcNet purchased the first batch (50,000 liters -- see Hardindra Rajapakse's log entery below). The second batch (20,000 liters) was a donation by HydraChem Limited, UK. Details of the shipment:
    (20,000L capacity): 1 tablet = 20 litres 10 tblt x 100 strips
    (20,160L capacity): 1 tablet = 1 litre 10 tblt x 2016
    (30,000L capacity): 1 tablet = 25 litres 8 tblt x150
    Total = 70,000L capacity

  8. January 6, 2005, PST: Dr. Tissa Illangasekare writes: The project got started on Monday, January 3rd. The supplies were loaded on to two lorries and sent to Thangalle. By yesterday (Tuesday 5th), 20 toilets have been completed at Tangalle. Champaka estimated about 25 installations per day, but things are moving much slower as direct supervision was required. Thirty (30) wells have been cleaned in Thangalla. [More ...]

  9. January 4, 2005, PST: Harindra Rajapakse in United Kingdom writes: We have purchased two varieties chlorine tablets for purifying water: [a] tablets each will dissolve in 1 litre of water, and [b] higher concentrate tablet that will dissolve in 25 litres of water. The thinking was that [a] would be useful for household distribution, with less over-dose potential, and [b] would be useful for larger scale purification purposes. Details:
    Product name: Oasis
    Active ingredient: Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC)
    Cost:
    (20,160L capacity) [a] (1 L) 10 tblt x96 @ GBP 4.00, 21 cartons GBP 84.00
    (30,000L capacity) [b] (25L) 8 tblt x150 @ GBP 16.00, 1 carton GBP 16.00
    Delivery GBP 8.00
    TOTAL (inv VAT and delivery) GBP 126.90

    Delivery: Estimated receipt on Fri 07 January 2005 to Varuni's office address in UK. Package will be small, and weigh about 8kg, which means we can even put this through the luggage of someone who may fly to SL, to be eventually delivered to Champaka.

  10. January 3, 2005, PST: Team Tsunami has secured 500 Coliform Test Kits: A private group, Team Tsunami, consisting of Ginger Cushing, Rich Allen, Cheryl Blake, Bruce Foster, Tim Hemkens, Linda Walsh, Adrienne Vincent, Sharay Brambila and Sujeewa Rathnayake, and based in Connecticut, USA, has donated 500 nos Coliform Bacteria Test Kits manufactured by Kemtec Science, USA. Team Tsunami has shipped the test kits Champika Paulis in Sri Lanka to be used for the Sanitation and Well Protection/Decontamination Project.

  11. January 3, 2005, PST: LAcNet was able to secure a large supply of coliform field test kist from IDEXX Laboratories. This was shipped to Champaka in Sri Lanka.

  12. January 3, 2005, PST: Champaka Paulis writes:

    Managed for phace I of Operation and rolling by 1700 hrs. Meeting 0800/04th Jan AGA Tangalle - Provide sanitation facilities/ well cleaning & Dininfect in Area. Will try update progress from site. Inform possible reciept time - Test kits/Chlorine tablets.

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