This document evaluates the present status of drinking water supply schemes in the tea estate sector in Sri Lanka. It describes the water sources, infrastructure, quality and management of schemes across three divisions of the Telbedda Estate located in Badulla District. Most schemes rely on open surface water sources like streams within the tea plantation with no treatment prior to distribution. Water quality is generally poor with high turbidity. Infrastructure is in poor condition with leaks, lack of maintenance and improper design posing contamination risks. Improved monitoring, healthcare facilities and systematically designed schemes are needed to better serve the vulnerable estate community.

1. GGT Chandrathilake1, Buddhika de Silva2
1 Department of Forestry and Environmental Science,
University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
2 Keselwatta, Panadura, Sri Lanka

4.  In the past, Tamil workers on tea plantations - depended on
the management of the estate for all their basic needs.
 In 1992, the plantation industry was privatized
 plantation companies claim they cannot afford social welfare
programmes (Van & Anita, 1998).
 District and Provincial government programmes for housing,
water supply & sanitation, health care & education in the
village sector do not reach the estate communities.
 As a result of that Plantation workers are among the most
economically deprived
 Therefore the most vulnerable to disease and ill-health.

5. To evaluate the present status of drinking water
supply schemes in tea estate sector in Sri Lanka.

6. Typical line room arrangement One Stand Post shared by few Households
at Telbedda Estate
Distribution pipes and water leaks A public well in poor condition

7. Toilet facilities

8.  located in Badulla DSD,
Badulla District, Uva
Province of Sri Lanka.
 central hills of the country.
 estate is 684.98 ha
 elevation varies 1470 m- to
750 m.
 cool weather condition
prevalent,

9.  Red-yellow podsolic soils;
 Steeply dissected, hilly and rolling terrain
 The coldest month - January and the hottest - August.
 The average daily temperature - 25.2°C.
 The area falls into the intermediate zone (IU 3)
 Avg. annual rainfall of 2000 mm-recorded- anr is 2041 mm
 February - - driest month of the year
 March - April and October-November-December are the two
season with heavy rain falls.
 30% wet dates and thereby the average proportion of dry
days is 70%.

10. 1. Westmorland Division of Thelbadda Estate
Scheme 1: Field No 4 Aattupattie side
Scheme 2: Poomarathi line section
Scheme 3: Field No 2 Mettu line side
3. Cobo Division of Thelbedda Estate
Scheme 1: FNo.21
Scheme 2: Field No. 1
Scheme 3: FNo. 6C & 11B
4. Malangamuwa Division of Thelbadda Estate
Scheme 1: Field No. 6
Scheme 2: Field No. 1B Muster side
Scheme 3: Field No.1C - Ground line side
Scheme 4: Field No 1C – Line Room No.3

11.  water sources; Intakes; storage tanks; pipe lines;
pump stations; stand posts, etc. were
thoroughly studied.
 Catchment type & area, water flow quantity &
quality (visual),
 water treatment methods & house hold level
usage & wastewater disposal methods also
studied.
 Health State regard to water-borne dieses in the
scheme collected from the Estate Medical
Officer
 Climatic data (rainfall) also incorporated.

12. Evaluation of Water Supply, Wastewater and Solid

13. Estate Road
Water Supply Schemes – Lower Division of Telbedda Estate
Figure 2 - Schematic Diagram of the Water Supply Scheme
Schematic Diagrams of the
Water Supply Schemes

14.  Most of the water schemes are based on open water (single)
sources in which water is harvested for supply through
gravity
 Basically from surface water bodies, few dug wells
 The catchments are mostly under tea plantation or with a
small scrubland.
 The high flows as 2 m3/min (during heavy rains) and low
flows of around 0.075 m3/min in dry periods.
 Water flow is perennial (70%), seasonal (10%), in some cases
intermittent (20%)
 Catchments are within the estate
 Tea fields, abandon lands, fuel wood plantations, vegetable

15.  Quality of the stream water is very low, high in turbidity,
muddy colour, specially in rainy days.
 no objectionable taste.
 The weirs are made of rubble masonry work provide
sufficient clear head and small water pool to extract water
from the stream.
 No intake chamber that prevents blockage of inlet due to
siltation.
 Intake pipes, storage tanks and distribution lines are in poor
condition, thus water overflows and with risk of
contamination.
 The distribution system does not include valves for control
and water loss is about 10% through the leaks.

16.  Also other essential components for proper supply as
washouts are not provided in the system.
 There is no proper maintenance of the system.
 No treatment is provided to the raw water before
distribution, boiling of consumptive water is not practiced in
general.
 The entire population is served using stand posts.
 Approximately one stand posts is available for 2-2.5
households.

17. Water Storage at Household Level

18. Division Type of source Perennial/Non- Water Quality
(surface/ ground) perennial
Stream (surface) Non-perennial Good
1. Westmorland Stream (surface) Perennial Good
Stream (surface) Intermitent Good
Spring (groundwater) Perennial Not Good, High Turbidity
2. Cobo Groundwater Well Non-perennial Not Good, High Turbidity
Stream (surface) Perennial Good
Spring (groundwater) Perennial Good
Spring (groundwater) Perennial Good
3. Malangama
Stream (surface) Perennial Not Good, High Turbidity
Seepage Water Perennial Not Good, High Turbidity

19.  Since the water sources are located in the tea plantations,
 extensive application of agrochemicals,
 inadequate toilet facilities for working communities,
 improper solid waste and waste water discharge are the identified risk
factors for the water sources.
 Water is very likely to be contaminated by human activities.
 Improper design of wires,
 storage tanks,
 distribution system,
 and water stored at households

20.  To prevent water based diseases and ill health of estate
communities following are needed;
 Monitoring of water quality,
 providing of systematically designed water supply schemes
 with adequate healthcare and sanitary facilities are highly
advisable for the estate community in order to secure their
living condition.

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