The National Water Supply and Drainaqe Board has taken steps to facilitate safe drinking water to the, Wilgamuwa Divisional Secretary's area which is located in eastern boundary of the central province of the Matale District due to the kidney patients reported in the area.
There are about 3000 patients reported on Renal failure and more than 500 patients are identified as more vulnerable patients and doing blood dialysis. This area is situated in the dry zone and the annual average rainfall in the area is in between 1000mm to 1500mm. Also the area gets rainfall from South East monsoon during October to December.
At present there are eight small scale water supply schemes operating in the Wilgamuwa DS area. Out of above schemes, one scheme is maintained by the Pradeshiya Sabah while other seven schemes a,r,e managed by communities. Other than the pipe borne water supply, people in the area use dug wells as the water source for drinking for day today needs.
Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKDu) cases in this area is high and percentage of reported cases is 2.2 % to total population in DSD. Total project area consists of 39 Grama Niladhari (GN) Divisions and the total population in 2012 is 26,267.
Hence, the Wilgamuwa Water Supply Project is proposed to fulfill the. above problems with a water treatment capacity of 5,500m3/day to Wilgamuwa area. 7500 Nos of connections will be provided under this project till year 2036.