August 25, Colombo (LNW): Water services to parts of Colombo and Gampaha were disrupted temporarily after a chemical release from a private industrial facility prompted authorities to shut down two major treatment plants as a precaution.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) halted operations at the Ambatale and Biyagama water treatment facilities after the incident was detected, amid concerns that contaminants could have reached the Kelani River.
The river is a crucial source of drinking water for a large population in the Colombo metropolitan area, making any suspected industrial contamination a matter of immediate public concern.
NWSDB chemical specialists were sent to the affected location to examine the situation and determine whether the released substance had entered the river. Chairman Chandana Bandara said the temporary suspension was intended to protect consumers until laboratory testing established that the raw water remained suitable for treatment.
Following the assessment and confirmation that the river water met the required safety standards, both treatment plants resumed operations at about 4.30am.
Water services were subsequently restored in stages. Several parts of Colombo regained supplies by around 7am, while Kotte, Battaramulla and Wellawatta were reconnected by approximately 9am. Residents in Biyagama, Kelaniya and Gampaha also began receiving water again from around 6am.
Although the immediate disruption has been resolved, the circumstances surrounding the chemical release remain under investigation. Authorities are examining how the substance entered the environment and whether there was any risk of longer-term contamination of the Kelani River.
Bandara said the Disaster Management Centre and the security forces were jointly conducting a wider inquiry into the incident. The NWSDB has also made a formal complaint to the police and notified the relevant authorities, paving the way for possible legal action if wrongdoing is established.
The episode has renewed attention on the need for stricter oversight of industrial facilities operating close to rivers and other important sources of drinking water. Environmental safeguards and rapid-response systems are likely to come under closer scrutiny as authorities investigate whether the incident could have been prevented.
