Ripples on Water aims to bring people together to develop water solutions because with better water solutions, we can create jobs, grow more feed, keep ourselves healthy and preserve nature.

2. There is plenty of water in
Sri Lanka, so people think
that it is not such a
big problem.

3. however….
70% of Sri Lanka is semi
arid – ‘the dry zone’
Source: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2010. Sri Lanka: issues and opportunities for investment. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 4p. (IWMI Water Issue Brief 7)

4. Half of all the 18,000 tanks
in the dry zone are abandoned
or in need of repair
Source: Panabokke, C. R. 2009. Small village tank systems of Sri Lanka: their evolution, setting, distribution and essential functions. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute
(HARTI) 84p.

5. ¼ of all urban households &
85% of rural households
have no access to piped water
Source: Imbulana, K.A.U.S., Wijesekara, N.T.S. and Neupane B.R.(eds.), Sri Lanka National Water Development Report 2006. MAI&MD, UN-WWAP, UNESCO andUniversity of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, Paris and New Delhi

6. 10% of schools do not have a toilet
Over 70% of the rest have toilets in
an unusable state
-A survey of the Southern and Central provinces
This discourages many children, especially girls from
coming to school. This seriously effects their
educational progress.

7. Inadequate water supplies have
been identified as the major
reason for disuse and neglect of
school toilets

8. Droughts are responsible for ⅔
of all crop losses over the last 30
years
Source: Imbulana, K.A.U.S., Wijesekara, N.T.S. and Neupane, B.R. (eds.), (2010) Sri Lanka Water Development Report 2010, Ministry of
Irrigation, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 117p.

9. Floods and droughts are a
continual threat to the livelihoods
of Sri Lanka’s farmers
Source: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2010. Sri Lanka: issues and opportunities for investment. Colombo, Sri Lanka:
International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 4p. (IWMI Water Issue Brief 7)

10. Population growth
Climate change
Economic development
Urbanization
will put more demands on water resources

11. Sri Lanka currently loses the
equivalent of a cricket pitch of forest
every 10 hours…vital for ensuring
regular, clean water supply
Source: FAO. 2009. State of the world’s forests 2009. Rome, Italy; FAO. 2010. Global Forest Assessment Report 2010. Rome, Italy.

12. Water quality: since the mid 80s
concentrations of pollutants in
some Jaffna wells have increased
by 400%
Source: Imbulana, K.A.U.S., Ratnayake, U.R., Herath, G.B.B., Koncagul, E. and Neupane, B.R. (eds.), (2009) Case Study in Walawe Basin Sri Lanka, A contribution to the United Nations World Water Assessment Programme,
UN-WWAP, Paris; UNESCO; Ministry of Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services, Sri Lanka

13. Over 5 million Sri Lankans lack
access to safe drinking water
Source: Imbulana, K.A.U.S., Ratnayake, U.R., Herath, G.B.B., Koncagul, E. and Neupane, B.R. (eds.), (2009) Case Study in Walawe Basin Sri Lanka, A contribution to the United Nations World Water Assessment Programme,
UN-WWAP, Paris; UNESCO; Ministry of Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services, Sri Lanka

14. but….
there are huge
opportunities!

15. Only one quarter of available
water resources in Sri Lanka is
currently put to productive use.

16. Irrigation efficiency and paddy
yield could be doubled.
Source: Imbulana, K.A.U.S., Wijesekara, N.T.S. and Neupane, B.R. (eds.), (2010) Sri Lanka Water Development Report 2010, Ministry of Irrigation, Colombo, Sri Lanka. 117p.

17. Flood and drought mitigation
measures can be put in place

18. Water needs to be higher on
the national agenda, because
with better water management

19. WE CAN
create jobs

20. WE CAN
grow more food

21. WE CAN
keep ourselves
healthy

22. WE CAN
preserve nature

23. How?
Join the movement.

24. Vision
Combining
art + science +
development

25. Sri Lanka
by…
Water awareness workshops with schools

26. Sri Lanka
by…
Raising public awareness

27. Sri Lanka
by…
Putting into action some
on-the-ground community water projects

28. Sri Lanka
Contribute to
a community project
“ Water would make the biggest
difference to our lives. We can no
longer hunt so we need to grow
our own food.” –Vedda chief

29. Sri Lanka
Contribute to
a community project
Ripples “Community-Wide”
water program

30. Sri Lanka
be a part of something..
Look at all the different uses of water
and build one solution for all

31. Sri Lanka
Join us at
The finale Ripples Water Dance
Friday, March 23rd and Saturday, March 24th 2012
by

32. Sri Lanka
Now
RipplesOnWater
Sign up for updates
www.RipplesonWater.org

33. Sri Lanka