Potential of water supply for irrigation and drinking from Nilawarai Well in Jaffna Peninsula

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to justify the availability of freshwater for irrigation and the water quality of the Nilawarai tube well for drinking water. Water samples were collected from Nilawarai well and tube well. The depth sampler was used to collect the water samples up to 50 m depth for pH and electrical conductivity (EC) measurements. The measurements were made on spot for pH and EC by respective meters. The procedure for other physical and chemical parameter analysis were based on Sri Lankan standards. Based on pH and EC, the depth nearly up to 23 m of the well contains fresh water with EC ranges from 600 µs/cm - 900 µs /cm. pH also ranges between the acceptable levels for irrigation water as 6.5 to 8.4. Regarding measured physical and chemical characters: colour, turbidity, pH, nitrate, nitrite, total alkalinity and sulphate were less, than the desirable level of Sri Lankan drinking water standards and EC, chloride and hardness were less than the permissible level of Sri Lankan drinking water standards. Hence the well could be used to supply of drinking water. Hence the water quality of Nilawarai freak well was in acceptable level for drinking and irrigation water supply.