Design and Establishment of

Groundwater Monitoring Network in

Sri Lanka

Component – 02 (subcomponent )

Dam Safety and Water Resources Planning Project (DSWRPP)

R. R.G.R. Rajapakse (Senior Hydrogeologist)

Water Resources Board

18th Dec 2013

Objectives

Establishment of a long term monitoring network

Systematic monitoring

Determination of hydrogeological and geochemical status

Knowledge dissemination

Importance

No established groundwater monitoring network in Sri Lanka

Potential threats and impacts on aquifers are not known

Uses of spatio-temporal hydrogeological & geochemical condition of

the aquifers for management practices

Pilot areas

Pilot area Issues

Area 1 Bacteriological and

Extensive Agriculture

Area 2 Extensive Agriculture

Area 3 Over extraction of

water from Agro wells

Area 4

Kidney disease

Area 5 Industrial pollution

Area 6 Salinity

Area 7 Extensive Agriculture

Area 8 WQ assessment

Desk Study/Literature Survey

Preliminary Awareness

Preparation of Base Maps

Selection of Initial Monitoring Points

GWL Monitoring

Preparation of Groundwater

Flow Direction Maps

Establishment of Monitoring Network

Further Studies for Consolidation

Final Establishment of Monitoring Network

DEM Map Preparation

Water Sampling

Deep Aquifer

Wet Dry

Shallow Aquifer

Wet Dry

Laboratory Analysis

Interpretations and Data Analysis

Water Quality Maps Preparation

Methodology

Activities completed in Pilot areas

1. Data collection and base maps preparation

2. Preliminary Awareness

1st Awareness Program - Jaffna Meeting with Jaffna University

A Workshop organized by WRB in collaboration with DSWRPP & SLWP - Jaffna

Preliminary Awareness programs &

interim awareness programs conducted

in each Pilot areas

a.) In-situ Chemical Testing

Assessment of basic groundwater chemistry

for selection initial sampling points

3. Field Activities

- Chemical

- Heavy Metal

- Bacteriological

Upgraded Laboratory

Assessment of spatio-temporal water quality maps of the pilot areas

Spatio-temporal analysis of water chemistry with head variations

Study of head variations with respect to climatic changes

Automated Datalogger Installation

High resolution automated

groundwater head level monitoring

in groundwater sensitive areas

Objective: Assessment of aquifer sensitivity, recharge or discharge

behaviors of the aquifer and groundwater trend analysis for forecasting

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Wat

er

leve

l(m

bgl

)

Groundwater Head fluctuations at Gampaha Sand aquifer

FCL05985

FCL05988/87

Interpret the subsurface aquifer

formations, hydrogeology & sea water

intrusion etc.

Irrakkamam

Karativu

Study the flow behaviors of the areas in basin levels

Determine the aquifer properties

and the sustainability of the

aquifers

Gampaha Pilot Area

Low pH

High NO3

Study Outputs

Water type - Ca/Mg(CO3/HCO3) type

TW0

5 Wattala Wahatiyagoda

TW0

6 Wattala Parana Ambalama

TW0

7 Katana Ambalammulla

TW0

8 Katana Muruthena

TW0

9 Wattala Wella palliya

Sea Water encroachment

High NO3 & EC levels

High levels of Phosphate

Puttalam Pilot Area

Stiff diagram signatures Na-K-Cl Water type

Water Chemistry

Jaffna Pilot Area

Elevated levels of NO3 and some

localities indicated high levels

High potential fresh groundwater

bearing zone at Iyyakachchi area

PO4 DISTRIBUTION OF AMPARA

PILOT AREA –Wet period

21

Ampara Pilot Area

Vulnerable areas of high Mn & Cd

High NO3 levels at Sammanthurai,

Central Camp Urbanized Areas

High PO4 levels

PO4 DISTRIBUTION OF AMPARA

PILOT AREA –Dry period

Output - Pilot areas

Pilot area Identified Issue/information Zone(area) Reason

Gampaha

NO3 pollution Katana, Biyagama Poor sanitation

Acidity of water

Katana, Biyagama, Ja-Ela, Gampaha inherited soil characteristics and Industrial pollution

Mn pollution Biyagama, Ja-Ela Industrial pollution?

High groundwater potential zones Katana(Ambalammulla) Associates with 2 fault zones

Ampara

NO3 pollution Sammanthurai, Irakkamam, Addalachchena, Malwatta, Ninthvur

Poor sanitation and excessive usage of NO3 containing furtilizers

F pollution Central camp, Addalachchena, Malwatta, Ninthvur

country rock weathering

PO4 pollution All over the pilot area Exessive agricultural activities?

Salinity Chavalakudai, Navithanveli,

Sea water intrution

Geological conditions of the area

Mn pollution Navithanveli, Sammanthurai, Deeghawapi Usage of pestisides?

Cd pollution Navithanveli, Sammanthurai, Deeghawapi Usage of pestisides?

Anuradhapura

Fl pollution Kebithigollewa, Kahatagasdigiliya, Padawiya, Galenbidunuwewa

rock weathering / Inherited soil characteristics

Total alkalinity high hardness

Dumping sites at the quartzite ridges

No3 pollution some localized areas poor sanitation

Output - Pilot areas (Contd..)

Pilot area Identified Issue/information Zone(area) Reason

Jaffna

NO3 pollution Kopai, Thirunalveli, Nallur, Kaithadi excessive agricutural practices

No Bacterialogical contamination identified

Jaffna, Nallur

High Salinity Ariyalai sea water intrusion?

Fresh groundwater zones Iyakkathchi to Kadeikadu Associates with isolated sand lenses

Puttalam

NO3 pollution Kalpitiya, Puttalam town area Poor sanitation and excessive Use of agrochemicals

PO4 pollution Vanathavillu Excessive agricultural activities

High yielding area Aruwakkaru Not yet identified

Salinity Aruwakkaru Sea water/ lagoon influence

Mathale

Groundwater depletion should be confirmed through consistant GWL monitoring since no previous records

High Fl Dewahuwa, Digampathaha rock weathering / Inherited soil characteristics

The established long term Groundwater monitoring networks

Gampaha Pilot Area

Puttalam Pilot Area

The established long term Groundwater monitoring networks

Badulla Pilot Area Ampara Pilot Area

Monitoring Network

The establish long term Groundwater monitoring network

Mathale Pilot Area

Jaffna Pilot Area

A’pura Pilot Area

Implementation of Monitoring activities

The continuous monitoring on the established networks is

scheduled for two years period (2014-2015) and this is proposed

in the extension phase of DSWRPP.

In progress: Obtaining Accreditation – WRB Laboratory Activities

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Preliminary activities

a

b

Submission of 1st Draft application

a

b

c

d Organize Laboratory according to the 17025 standard.

e Submission of application with necessary documents

Submission of 2nd Draft application

a

b Correction of 1 st draft and submission to SLAB

4 Submission of 3rd Draft application

b Correction of 1 st draft and submission to SLAB

5 Submission of Final application

Planned Actual SLAB processing time

Oct

Months and Weeks - 2013

June July August

9

MayFeb March

Study & collect necessary information regarding testing

Laboratory Accreditation through SLS

Accreditation Board in Sri Lanka (SLAB) &

Searching Internet.

Submission of a fresh application with necessary

documents for accreditation certificate

aAppointment of lead assessor by SLAB to advise to

correct the 2nd draft if necessary

April

Collecting the 17021 standard from Sri Lanka

Standard Institution.

Collecting and filling an application form & supporting

documents (questionnaire, the Laboratory quality

manual and associated documents referred in the

application & questionnaires). Associated

documentation should include Procedures, work

instruction, quality records etc..

Prepare procedure manual. & quality manual

according to the guidelines of SLAB.

1

2

Sept

Sl No

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

3Appointment of lead assessor by SLAB to advise to

correct the 1st draft if necessary

The objectives of the programs were to:

Aware the present status of the groundwater resources in the respective

areas

Discuss on the issues and solutions for implementing of a mitigatory

approach

Formulate an action committee at DSD levels

to aware the grass root level community on the present status of

groundwater resources in the study areas

Put directives and guidance towards the farming community to

minimize the impact on groundwater while post auditing by WRB

through consistent water quality monitoring

During these programs, the awareness posters were distributed among

the participants to be displayed at their working place and other public

gathering places.

Follow up Awareness programs

Jul Au Sep Oct NovDec Jan Feb Mar Apr Ma Jun Jul Au Se Oc No Dec Jan

Item Activity

1 Awareness

Institutions

Public

Farmer community

2

District secretary

Divisional secretaries

Grama niladari

Farmer organizations

Water resources Board

Agriculture and agrarian

3 WRB

4 Committee

2015

Groundwater Protection Program - Activity plan

Reporting

and

Progress

2014

Environmental and

planning officers

Formation

of action

committees

Monitoring

program

Follow up Awareness programs (Contd..)

- In progress for conducting grass root level awareness at DSD

levels (for farmer community, GN officers, other Institutional

officers who engaged with the community in the areas )

- Carried out programs at Anuradhapura, Galenbindunuwewa,

Puttalam, Kalpitiya DSDs and Ampara & Jaffna are scheduled in

January 2014.

Follow up Awareness programs (Contd..)

Awareness program held

at Puttalam DSD

Awareness program held

at Kalpitiya DSD

Awareness program held

at Galenbindunuwewa

DSD

Action Committee elected for the protection plan

at Galenbindunuwewa DSD

Some of the posters distributed among the pilot areas

Proposed Extension Programme

Objectives

Establishment of seawater monitoring

surveillance lines

Strengthening of monitoring network

with additional areas identified

Continuation of the long term water

quality monitoring through the

established monitoring networks

Minimize the impact on groundwater

through grass root level awareness

with groundwater quality monitoring.

A.) Puttalam and Kalpitiya - Artesian well head structures for head

level monitoring

- Extensive 2D geophysics along the coastal stretch to identify/demarcate the seawater intrusion

Additional Work considered:

B.) Anuradhapura - Addition of Sri Pura and other DS

divisions that have recorded highest

number of CKD patients.

C.) Ampara district - Addition of Dehiattakandiya, Padiyathalawa and

Maha oya DS Divisions to the existing network

due to CKD issues identified

- Extensive 2D surveys along the coastal stretch to

identify/demarcate the seawater intrusion

D.) Gampaha - Addition of new DS Divisions(Mahara,

Kadawatha, Kelaniya) and identify new locations

for the existing monitoring network

- Geophysics to identify the seawater interface for

long term monitoring

E.) Jaffna - 2D surveys along the coastal zones of the

district and adding of new DS divisions.

F.) Mathale - Continue of GW level monitoring for another two years for trend analysis and identify the impact levels

- Identification of the areas affected by CKD G.) Badulla - Water quality analysis with special emphasis on

heavy metal anlaysis (As,Cd,Mn,Pb)

Training Software training

2D resistivity survey

Groundwater modeling

Tentative Work plan ( for the proposed extension program)

Activity Items Cost(Rs. Mn)

Procurement Data loggers - 6 5.40

Drilling rigs with supporting truck (including

accessories)

90.00

Test pumping units - 2 49.98

Geophysical equipment - 2

Mobilization crew cab - 1

10.00

7.00

Laboratory equipment 15.00

Software 0.10

Artesian well head structures 0.80

Activities Geophysical investigations 4.85

Construction of bore wells 20.00

Water quality monitoring, awareness, continuation

of monitoring network

11.02

Training Software, Modeling, Geophysics, Hydrogeology 6.10

Capacity build up

(Institutional )

Improvement of WRB head office building 40.00

Total 265.70

Estimated Budget

THANK YOU