First pipe at water supply Hemmathagama has been laid

The first pipe has been laid for the water treatment plant in Hemmathagama, Sri Lanka. In this area, 17,000 families from seven villages still drink untreated, raw water from the river Auphinella. Access to clean drinking water will change their lives, meaning fewer diseases among the residents and less pressure on the area’s already overstretched healthcare system.

Ballast Nedam International takes care of this water supply project from design to completion. To illustrate the great complexity of the project: we use pipes with a total length of 111 kilometers to get the clean water to the 17,000 houses in the area. The pipes run - partly underground, partly above ground – across the grounds of many different owners. When the project is finished, the seven villages will each have their own reservoir. 

The water distribution network has a capacity of 21,000 m3 per day. The mountainous terrain is a big advantage, as the height differences mean that the water supply can make use of gravity for distribution. No water pumps are required. This makes the execution less expensive and more more environmentally friendly. This environmental impact is considered essential for success.

"By delivering this clean, treated water supply to the families of Hemmathagama we expect to improve the socioeconomic prospects of this area", said Serkan Kumbasar, Project Manager at Ballast Nedam International. "That is what’s driving us to overcome any Covid-19 related obstacles to make sure that we deliver on time, and exceeding expectations."

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