[Image: by Practical Action]

The Water quality improvement component has been implemented by Practical Action and Facilitated by Sarvodaya for the project sites. Water resource survey had been conducted by experts in all 12 project sites. Objective of activity was to assess the water quality, usage and identify the suitable sites for further research. Domestic and alternative water supply, topography and special features observed. Based on recorded GPS coordinates, major and minor roads, public places, water bodies, boundaries of GND and other important features will be demarcated in the maps. Data collected during the field visits and digital maps collected from Survey department wereused. Factors considered for selecting research sites were,  population density, pipe water availability, water associated Livelihoods, area of flooding during rainy season and community perceptions on alternative options. Based on a weighted criterion, four villages have been selected for the detailed study. Those GN divisions are Walhengoda, Thallala, Andaragasysya and Karathivu. Basic data and information on the water bodies exist in the villages were collected by Water Resource Survey. The attempts to collect data on discharge water quantity and runoff water were failed due to lack of data available at relevant institute. However the assessment based on observations and a water balance study will provide the required data for the survey. Survey has extended to the household levels to identify the water sources and community perceptions. There are many who had abandoned their water wells, thinking that the water quality had reduced after the Tsunami.  The household survey is currently been carryied out by the village project staff. Hundred households from selected 4 villages for detailed groundwater study and 50 house holds from other 8 villages will be covered by the survey. Water Quality Monitoring program has started for establishment of water quality monitoring wells. 20-30 number of water sources (wells and surface water bodies) were selected randomly from each 4 village to monitor the water quality. Salinity, electrical conductivity, and specific conductivity are the water quality parameters measured in the survey. In order to see the seasonal fluctuations, the measurements will be taken by every 2 months intervals. To study the Fluctuations of groundwater table will be examined through the readings of water depth taking every two months periods. The data collected by the monitoring program will analyze the data against the geology, soil and climatic conditions of study sites. However, information gathered from community and other government offices will be helpful to organize and to develop a mechanism to minimize salinity impacts.