DE3262

Assessment of water requirement problem of North

part of Sri Lanka and methods could be

implemented to overcome water crisis

By

Index No. Name

100235B T. Kankeyan

100219F S. Jeyatharsine

100333A A. Manorajh

100001F S. Aathavan

Department of Mechanical Engineering

University of Moratuwa

Sri Lanka

21st November 2014

Group

Assignment

i

Table of Contents

Abbreviations ................................................................................................................. ii

Abstract .......................................................................................................................... 1

Hard water problem of the north part of Sri Lanka ....................................................... 1

Potential solutions to access the problems and issues related to the problems .............. 3

[1]. Solar water distiller .......................................................................................... 3

[2]. Water purification system ................................................................................ 5

[3]. Using chemicals ............................................................................................... 7

[4]. Line-in filters .................................................................................................... 7

[5]. Using plastic components................................................................................. 8

Actions or suggestions to overcome the issues .............................................................. 8

Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 9

Bibliography .................................................................................................................. v

ii

Abbreviations

WHO World Health Organization

UDHR Universal Declaration of Human Rights

CKD - Chronic Kidney Disease

1

Abstract

According to convention of UDHR article 25, people have the right to a standard of

living adequate for the health and well-being. This includes of having the available facilities

for their well-being. Especially in the world according to WHO statement in 2025, half of

the population in the world will suffer in water-stressed areas. The article will provide a

solution for water problem faced in the north part of Sri Lanka with the available knowledge

in the water resources management with the mechanical engineering knowledge especially in

the solar energy and some other chemical applications, which could be implemented to

overcome those issues and the overall drawbacks and availability is discussed in this article.

In Sri Lanka, most of the rural areas are affected in the water issue for even for drinking and

other human basic needs. Especially in the north part of Sri Lanka is affected by this issue

these days. Studies have proven that the people in the north have been suffering with the

good quality water especially for drinking and for cultivation purposes. The water is very

badly affected by Calcium because of the land structure of the peninsula.

The standalone systems may have to be replaced with a common water supply system

with proper guarantee to the water in the required times especially for agricultural purposes.

Many get suffered from the above issue in these days because of improper raining season

effects and the ground water issue. Especially few years ago they could manage their

agricultural needs using groundwater however these days the water level is reducing and the

content is mixed with chemicals are some of the reasons for the problems and they are not

providing expected cultivation. So they are looking for some solutions for the case.

Hard water problem of the north part of Sri Lanka

In the north part of the country most of our people are facing problems due to the

current issues with hard water. Even though, the hard water being a common problem in

Vavuniya, Mannar, Jaffna and closed areas. Specially, it is affecting the life style and survival

of the people in Jaffna. As most of the people are using underground water for the cultivation

and other daily uses. Vavuniya, Mannar areas have water network with the aid of available

ponds and reservoirs and Jaffna is lack on that.

2

Pure water should be tasteless, colourless and odourless. As water moves soil and

rock, it dissolves small amount of minerals and hold them in solution. Calcium and

magnesium are that two minerals which cause in formation of hard water.

Hard water mainly affects the cleaning task more over it affects the cultivation as well

as the life style in main ways. Some effects are mentioned below,

Clothes, laundered in hard water may look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy.

Thousands of people returning to settle in the former war zone, groundwater extraction is

bound to increase, resulting in shortages of water supply in the Jaffna peninsula for

agriculture and domestic use.

With pesticides and fertilizer runoff seeping into the groundwater the main source of

drinking water in the Jaffna peninsula, kidney and other health issues are going to become

more common. The Chronic Kidney Disease (CKDu) prevalent in Anuradhapura will be a

walk in the park, compared to what is probably in store for the Jaffna dwellers. CKDu

incidence in Jaffna has been low probably because agriculture and use of

fertilizer/pesticides were minimal due to lack of access to markets in the South during the

civil war.

More than 65720 persons residing in Jaffna depends solely on well water to fulfil their

needs. Currently coastal areas like peninsula in Jaffna are facing problems even with drinking

water due the hard water problem. Numerous institutions, including National water supply,

Department of health and intellectual committee of university of Jaffna, have done so many

researches regarding of hard water crisis. It was concluded that these areas should be supplied

drinking water from other parts. In the other hand due to the salinity problem in well water

these are people are facing problems with their income sources as these people are only

depended on the underground water, this salinity problem affect the cultivation. Mostly the

people are involved in onion cultivation. In the past people were doing cultivation

satisfactorily using the underground water. But now they are only depended seasonal rain. If

the draught continues for a certain period, it affects the economic life cycle of the farmer.

According to the article 25 of universal declaration human rights, 1948 (UDHR), it

says everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being

himself and of his family including food, clothing, housing and medical care and social

services and the right to security in the event of unemployment sickness disability

widowhood, old age or other lacks of livelihood in circumstances beyond this control.

3

Looking into the problem faced by northern part people due to the hard water, Where

facing challenges with their standard of life. When hard water is consumed for drinking

purpose it causes stones in the kidney. It became a health threat to the people.

Moreover this hard water issue their traditional occupation has become a question to

the people. This became a threat again for the standard of living of the people. For the

production of land and soil as well as the traditional cultivation and farmers it is important to

provide the solution for the betterment of the people as a Mechanical Engineer. The basic

human right to fulfil the standard of living for the health and well being became a threat due

to this hard water and salinity problem in the northern part.

As mechanical engineers we have a huge responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil

the needs of the society.

Potential solutions to access the problems and issues related to the

problems

[1]. Solar water distiller

Solar distillation systems can be any size. They are designed either to serve the needs

of a single family, producing from to 3 gallons of drinking water a day on the average, or

to produce much greater amounts for an entire neighbourhood or village. In some parts of the

world the scarcity of fresh water is partially overcome by covering shallow salt water basins

with glass in greenhouse-like structures. These solar energy distilling plants are relatively

inexpensive, low-technology systems, especially useful where the need for small plants

exists. Solar distillation of potable water from saline (salty) water has been practiced for

many years in tropical and sub-tropical regions where fresh water is scare. However, where

fresh water is plentiful and energy rates are moderate, the most cost-effective method has

been to pump and purify. Solar distillation is a relatively simple treatment of brackish (i.e.

contain dissolved salts) water supplies. In this process, water is evaporated; using the energy

of the sun then the vapour condenses as pure water. This process removes salts and other

impurities. Solar distillation is used to produce drinking water or to produce pure water for

lead acid batteries, laboratories, hospitals and in producing commercial products such as rose

water. It is recommended that drinking water has 100 to 1000 mg/l of salt to maintain

electrolyte levels and for taste. Some saline water may need to be added to the distilled water

4

for acceptable drinking water. Generally, solar stills are used in areas where piped or well

water is impractical. Such areas include remote locations or during power outages

.Distillation are therefore normally considered only where there is no local source of fresh

water that can be easily pumped or lifted. One of the main setbacks for solar desalination

plant is the low thermal efficiency and productivity. In areas that frequently loss power, Solar

stills can provide an alternate source of clean water. A large use of solar stills is in developing

countries where the technology to effectively distil large quantities of water has not yet

arrived.

The Sol Aqua still is a passive solar distiller that only needs sunshine to operate.

There are no moving parts to wear out. The distilled water from a Sol Aqua still does not

acquire the "flat" taste of commercially distilled water since the water is not boiled (which

lowers pH). Solar stills use natural evaporation and condensation, which is the rainwater

process. This allows for natural pH buffering that produces excellent taste as compared to

steam distillation. Solar stills can easily provide enough water for family drinking and

cooking needs. Solar distillers can be used to effectively remove many impurities ranging

from salts to microorganisms and are even used to make drinking water from seawater. Sol

Aqua stills have been well received by many users, both rural and urban, from around the

globe. Sol Aqua solar distillers can be successfully used anywhere the sun shines. The Sol

Aqua solar stills are simple and have no moving parts. They are made of quality materials

designed to stand-up to the harsh conditions produced by water and sunlight. Operation is

simple: water should be added (either manually or automatically) once a day through the

still's supply fill port. Excess water will drain out of the overflow port and this will keep salts

from building up in the basin. Purified drinking water is collected from the output collection

port. Supply Fill Port: Water should be added to the still via this port. Water can be added

either manually or automatically. Normally, water is added once a day (in the summer it's

normally best to fill in the late evening and in the winter, in the early morning). Care should

be taken to add the water at a slow enough flow rate to prevent splashing onto the interior of

the still glazing or overflowing into the collection trough.

Overflow Port: Once the still basin has filled, excess water will flow out of this port.

Sol Aqua recommends three times daily distilled water production to be allowed to overflow

from the still on a daily basis to prevent salt build-up in the basin. If we still produced 2

5

gallons of product water then you should add 6 gallons of fresh feed water through the fill

port. If flushed like this on a daily basis, the overflow water can be used for other uses as

appropriate for our feed water (for example, landscape watering). Distilled Output Collection

Port: Purified drinking water is collected from this port, typically with a glass collection

container. Stills that are mounted on the roof can have the distillate output piped directly to

an interior collection container. For a newly installed still, allow the collection trough to be

self-cleaned by producing water for a couple of days before using the distillate output.

[2]. Water purification system

Ultraviolet water purification systems are used in numerous applications that consist

of home or residential (both well water and municipal water supplies), commercial and

industrial. The quality of well water can vary from day to day and from year to year in the

short term, things like heavy rainfalls or drought can affect water quality. In the long term

quality may be affected by distant contamination sources such as earthquakes, and other

factors. Water that has been safe for years will not necessarily be safe tomorrow. Here is a list

of quite a lot of applications where the power of UV water sterilizers are generally used to

treat and care for the water supply for pollutes such as bacteria and viruses. Some important

applications include private wells, campgrounds, hotels, bottlers, aquaculture, hospitals, food,

cottages, restaurants, breweries, water systems, laboratories, marine, pharmaceutical, dairies

and many other applications.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and UV water system

UV radiation from

ultraviolet water systems

solely is not suitable for

water with high levels of

adjourned solids, turbidity,

colour or soluble organic

matter. These materials can

act in response with UV

radiation, and reduce

6

decontamination performance. Water turbidity makes it difficult for the ultraviolet radiation

to penetrate water. If your water supply has these characteristics, a sediment pre-filter should

be installed before your UV water purification system to remove particulate matter prior to

UV water disinfection.

Ultraviolet radiation can be used as a pre-treatment or polishing step to sterilize and

purify water. UV systems are classically used to pre-treat a water supply that is considered

biologically unsafe (lake or sea water, well water). The UV disinfection method is a non-

chemical method for destroying microbes (bacteria and viruses) by altering their genomic

material, and interpreting them unable to make a replica.

Advantages of Ultra Violet water purification system

There are some very important reasons why UV technology is used to treat their water

by both homeowners and municipalities.

Highly effective

For over 25 years, UV technology has been believed as a safe, cost-effective method to

purify water and exclude harmful microorganisms. It is currently being used by thousands

of cities, bottled water manufacturers and homeowners around the world.

Chemical free

UV provides water purification without the addition of dangerous chemicals such as

chlorine. It also avoids the potential of generating harmful chemical purification by

products. Recently, there are instructions which are forcing cities across the United States

to reduce or eliminate the use of chlorine for exactly this reason.

Taste &odor free

UV does not make any changes of the taste, odor or color of the water, because there are

no any mixing chemicals with water to be used.

More effective than chlorine

Unlike chlorine, UV systems are effective against both Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

Compact and easy to maintain

UV systems are capable of treating a single faucet or an entire home in a minimal amount

of space with the only maintenance being an annual lamp and filter replacement.

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[3]. Using chemicals

Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural way to rid your home of unwanted

calcium deposits. Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into a spray bottle

with 1 cup of hot water. Spray the mixture onto the calcium

deposit, and allow it to soak for several minutes. Then use a rag to

rub the area clean of the calcium deposit. Spray this solution

whenever you need to clean calcium deposits; it is safe to use

around children and pets.

Tang

Tang is a powdered drink beverage mix available in most supermarkets. Tang

contains a high amount of ascorbic acid, which will eat away at the calcium deposits. Spread

the powdered Tang on the calcium deposits and allow it to sit for several hours. Then use a

cloth dipped in hot water to scrub your calcium deposits, and they should come clean.

[4]. Line-in filters

Filtersorb

Uses revolutionary media inside a pressure vessel

which is running in a counter current mode. The up

flowing water causes the formation of a fluidized bed

o

f

t

h

e

m

8

edia. The immediate conversion of water hardness (due to Ca2+

and Mg2+

) gets

converted into sub-micron size harmless crystal when hard water passes through the

media. The height of the pressure vessel is chosen depending on the maximum flow

rate of the unit, to provide the required space for the expansion of the floating bed. It's

recommended to use a pressure vessel whose volume is 6 - 7 times than the volume of

the media used.

[5]. Using plastic components

a. Tap

b. Controllers

c. Pipes

Because of Calcium get deposits at a high

rate inside silver and brass components than the

plastic components. And plastic components are

economically beneficial.

Implementing the entire pipe system outside the wall in order to change it when there

is a blockage.

Raise the tank level to increase the speed of the water flow.

Actions or suggestions to overcome the issues

There have been a lot of researches and studies have been in progress in the above

mentioned issue. There are a lot of alternatives have been testing in the above context with

different concept. Some of the above mentioned techniques are somewhat useable for only

the residential water requirement other than drinking and agricultural aspects. Solar water

distiller is a good solution in the above context even if the groundwater resources cannot be

used for the water requirement of the places. Using solar water distiller the sea water of those

areas can be assed and can be used for water requirement of people can be solved out.

However it is little bit costly since the requirement of pumping water from sea to plants and

then the distillation have to be done and proper irrigation design is expected to be carried out

to deliver the water supply to the area. Mostly even now most of those areas dont have any

Main Water Supply Unit or connections. So if such a plant is to be installed to provide the

9

water supply the requirements should have to be analyzed whether the plants to be installed at

a single place and all the areas should have to connected through a network or different part

of Jaffna Peninsula should have to be handled with different plants should have to be decided

accordingly. It will be helpful on determining the cost of capital and operating cost for the

water supply process. Almost nowadays pipe and other relevant components in the water

system in Jaffna have been using plastic components for their use; however still there are

some people havent change back to the plastic components. Plastic components in design

they can be used to stock out the calcium through a proper design to make sure the water get

cleaned. Even solar distiller, UV water purification system, Line in filters, Chemicals etc. can

be used as previously mentioned above techniques. Those will conclude the ground water

will also can be used effectively if we could implement these techniques effectively, rather

than going for sea water filtration.

However these days some other issues also have been raised in the north peninsula,

especially there are some locations have been found with dirt oils have been mixed with the

groundwater of the Peninsula. There are some court cases have been going on that issue as

those are because of the Power station of North and their waste oil have been mixing with the

groundwater. Still there are not clear views on that issue. However if such things

continuously occurs the groundwater all over the area will be affected and the groundwater of

peninsula will no longer will be a water resources for the north part of Sri Lanka. The

groundwater of the Peninsula is interconnected inside the land so polluting one part of the

groundwater means spoiling all the available water resources.

Conclusion

There have been some initiatives to supply water for the north from the reservoirs in

the Kilinochchi area. Even though such move has been taken that is not a feasible solution for

the above problem because that will heavily effect the cultivation of those areas. The

providing solution should have to be also better way to supplement both the areas. Therefore

the purifying water from groundwater or sea water would be the more feasible solution in the

context. However the feasibility study and appraisal need to be carried out to validate the

above before going in to solutions.

v

Bibliography

1. Shanmugarajah, K. Water Resources Development - Jaffna Penisula. s.l. : Wild &

Woolley Pty. Ltd. , 1993.

2. World Health Organization. [Online] http://www.who.int/en/.

3. Dalima, Bella. Jaffna residents face clean water crisis. [Online] 02 Feburary 2014.

http://newsfirst.lk/english/2014/02/water-crisis-jaffna/17934.

4. Mester, Benji. Solar Water Distiller -- Solar Still Plans. [Online]

http://benjimester.hubpages.com/hub/solar-water-distiller-solar-still.

5. Colorad, Adventure. Ultra Violet (Solar) Water Purification. [Online]

adventurecolorad.hubpages.com/hub/Ultra-Violet-Solar-Water-Purification.

6. Assessment of Groundwater Resources in Jaffna Limestone Aquifer. M.

Thushyanthy, C.S. De Silva. 2012, Tropical Agricultural Research, pp. 177 - 185.