2011/9/20

AYUBOWAN

Current Policy Responses toAttain the National Water Quality
Target and Future Challenges inSri Lanka
Dr. R.M.S.K. Ratnayake
Directorecto
Environmental Pollution Control
Central Environmental Authority
Sri Lanka

12011/9/20

Outline1.Policies
1.
Policies and Responsibilities on Water
Quality
Q lit Management
Mt
2.Water2.
Water Quality Standards and Targets
3.Progress
3.
Progress and Achievements in WQM
4.Challenges
4.
Challenges to WQM in Sri Lanka

1. Policies and Responsibilities on Water
Quality Management
 Parliament – National Policy & Legislation Provincial
P i i lC
Councilsil


The Provincial Council List includes “protection of environment
within the Province to the extent permitted by or under any law
made by Parliament”. The Concurrent List includes “protectionof the environment”, planning of water resources” and “soilconservation”.

 Local Authorities

regulation, control and administration of all matters relating to
public health, public utility services and public thoroughfares,
and generally with the protection and promotion of the comfort,
convenience and welfare of the people2

2011/9/20

 National Policy Document for wholeEnvironment“Haritha Lanka Programme”,Programme , prepared in2009 and Cabinet approved 10 missions for different sectors

Mission 77-- Water for all and always
 Mission 99-- Greening the industries

Water for All and Always
 8 Strategies

Establish a systematic water allocation
system and improve efficiency and quality inwater distribution for various purposes
Organize a rehabilitation scheme for small
tanks and revitalize the tank cascade systemdeveloped3

2011/9/20







Transform the irrigation system to meet newchallenges
Keep drinking water resources free fromcontamination through proper zoning andcontrol measures
Integrate conservation, rere-use and recycling
practices at all levels of water use

Strictly enforce the polluter pay principle forwater polluting industries
Strengthen implementation of integrated
water resource management systems
Reduce fertilizer leaching and eutrophication4

2011/9/20

Greening the industries
 6 StrategiesConsolidate Cleaner Production in Industries

Establish Eco
Eco--industrial Park

Certification
Ce t cat o ofo Industries
dust esGreening the Supply Chain

Responsible Agencies and Related Laws in Water Sector Central Environmental Authority (National EnvironmentalAct No. 47 of 1980)1980)––
overall responsibility with regulatory power National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWS&DBLaw No. 2 of 1974)1974)––


responsible for drinking water and sewage Management

 Department of Irrigation (Irrigation Ordinance No. 32 of1946)–
1946)
–


lakes and Irrigation canals

 Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka(Act No. 23 of 1979) –Mahaweli River & tributaries and its constructed reservoirs

52011/9/20

Provisions for water Protection in NEA
 Passed the Act No. 47 of 1980 and established theCentral Environmental Authority (CEA) in 1981 for
implementation of the ACT.
 Main Amendments, No.56 of 1988 & No.53 of 2000.
 Provisions Under NEA

Licencing Scheme for polluting activities (EPL)
Effluent Discharge Standards
Environment Protected Areas
Approval Procedure for Prescribed Projects (EIA)

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Environmental protected area – Lake Gregory

2. Water Quality Standards andTargets
 Part IV B of the NEA
 Two Types of Effluent DischargeStandards Established in 1990
Discharge point Type of effluent
7

2011/9/20

Some Important Water Quality ParametersTSS

BOD Oil &Grease

COD

PesticideFaecal
Coli form

Inland surface

5030102500 0050.005

40

Irrigation

2100 250

10400-

40Marine coastal

150

100

202500.005

40

Common TP

500

350

30

8500.2-

Rubber-- latex
Rubber
std.

100
100

6050-

400
400--Textile

5060

10250--

Tanning-- ISWTanning
MC

100
150

60
100

1020250300--

Water Quality Targets
 No. of compliance ~ 50%–
50%– Current position
 Enhance
E hup tto 8080-90% within
ithi 2 years
 Gazette identified Protected Areas Establish better standards for effluents inthis year Classification of water bodies
 Introduce load based fee scheme for water
discharging industries82011/9/20

3. Progress and Achievements in
WQM
 Load based feefee- Law drafted and submitted to the legal

draftsman
 Establishment of new effluent standardsstandards- draft completed
 Establishment of compliance assistance centres
centres--

decided to establish with MOI
 Awarding scheme started in this year for better

performers in environment protection
 Annually increasing environmental compliances Declaration of 6 Environmental Protection Areas Advisory committee on eco friendly livestock farming

was formed to solve environmental problems created bylivestock industry and to assist them in pollution control.
 A joint cabinet paper was submitted by CEA andNWS&DB for policy on locating high polluting activities
only at down streams of the water intakes
intakes-- approved
subject to some amendments

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Progress of compliance
Item

2007

2008

2009

2010

EPL

599

692

2071

2528

ER

457

701

649

592

EIA

828

15

4IEE

29

383

296

590

1,789

1,303

2,606

OTHER 974

“National Green Awards” recognizes the better performing industries10

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4.

Challenges to WQM in Sri Lanka

 Law and Law Enforcement

Poor law enforcement by Implementing agenciesagencies.
CEA/LA/BOI etc.
No any ambient WQ standard established
Unavailability of proper zoning plans in local
government authorities in the country as a whole.

Encroachments of reservations of the waterways

Practical problems in standards

Poor law enforcement112011/9/20

Discharge of untreated wastewater Technology and Economy

Lack of affordable pollution control techniquesfor small & medium scale enterprises.
enterprises
Lack of sewage network facility at least for
populated cities
Inadequacyq
y of funds for monitoringg andrehabilitation12

2011/9/20

 Institutional

Lack of coordination in relevant institutions.
 Inadequate financial allocation
 Inadequate staff Education
Willingness to apply cleaner technologies

 Monitoring and evaluation

Lack of available baseline data Less research on this subject
 Failures in self reporting system in industries
Thank You13