Cascade Tank Water Quality Management: A Case Study in Thirappane Tank Cascade System, Sri Lanka

Authors

  • N. S. Abeysingha Department of Agric. Engineering and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata university of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
  • S. P. Dissanayake Department of Agric. systems, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata university of Sri Lanka, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka
  • S. Sumanaweera Global Research Foundation, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
  • S. S. K. De Silva Global Research Foundation, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v3i1.3277

Abstract

Tank cascade system (TCS) is a series of tanks located in a mesocatchment and has been accepted as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System found in Sri Lanka. Ecosystem components of the TCS play a major role in purifying water within the system. This study attempted to investigate the water quality status and the farmers’ willingness to rehabilitate the ecosystem components of the Thirappane TCS. Drinking and irrigation water quality parameters were tested in 34 locations and drinking and irrigation water quality indexes were calculated. Participatory rural appraisal and a questioner survey were conducted to gather social data. Water of TCS was observed to be appropriate for irrigation but not for drinking during the Maha cropping season. Based on the results of the Nitrate (as NO3 - ) and Total Phosphate (as PO4 3-), water of TCS can be categorized as eutrophic. Presence of ecosystem features of tank cascade system, annual income of the respondents, satisfaction on the quality of water for drinking, and the awareness about the tank cascade system significantly influenced the participatory decisions of the community on the rehabilitation of TCS. This study shall be an example and an eye opener to formulate sustainable tank cascade management plan.

Keywords:

Drinking water quality; Irrigation water quality; Social survey; Tank cascade system; Watershed management

References

[1] MA (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) (2005) Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report. Island Press, Washington, DC.

[2] Flotemersch, J. E., Leibowitz, S.G., Hill, R.A., Stoddard, J.L., Thoms, M.C., & Tharme R.E. (2016) A watershed integrity definition and assessment approach to Support strategic management of watersheds, River Research and Application, 32,pp.1654- 1671.

[3] FAO (2018) Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems combining agricultural biodiversity, resilient ecosystems, traditional farming practices and cultural identity.

[4] Mahatantila ,K., Chandrajith, R., Jayasena, H.A.H., & Ranawana, K.B. (2007) Spatial and temporal changes of hydro geochemistry in ancient tank cascade systems in Sri Lanka: evidence for a constructed wetland. Water and Environment Journal, 22 (1),pp. 17-24.

[5] Gunapala, K.G.M.W., & Abeysingha, N.S. (2019) Chemical precipitation function of Thaulla area in small tank in Sri Lanka, Resources and Environment, 9 (3), pp.49-57.

[6] Abeysingha, N.S., Dassanayake, K.B. & Weerarathna, C.S. (2018). Will restoration of ecological functions of tank cascade system contribute to reduce CKDu in Sri Lanka? a Review. Journal of environment management and sustainable development, 7 (3), pp.60-81.

[7] Giri, S., & Qiu, Z. (2016) Understanding the relationship of land uses and water quality in twenty first century: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 173,pp. 41-48.

[8] Ng, J. C., Juhasz, A., Smith, E., & Naidu, R. (2015) Assessing the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of metals and metalloids. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22 (12),pp. 8802-8825.

[9] Jayasumana, M.A.C.S., Paranagama, P.A., Amarasinghe, M.D., Wijewardane, K.M.R.C., Dahanayake, K.S., & Senanayake, V.K. (2013) Possible link of Chronic arsenic toxicity with Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology in Sri Lanka. Journal of Natural Sciences Research, 3 (1),pp.64-73.

[10] Martin, T.D., Brockhoff, C.A., & Creed, J.T. (1994) EMMC methods work group - Method 200.7, Determination of metals and trace elements in water and wastes by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, Revision 4.4, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio.

[11] Ragunath, H. M. (1987) Groundwater, Wiley Eastern Ltd., New Delhi.563. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00908319208956248 (Accessed 22 July 2019).

[12] Richards, L.A. (1954) Diagnosis and improvement of saline and Alkali soils. USDA handbook 60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00010694-195408000-00012 (Accessed 25 August 2019).

[13] Kelly, W.P. (1963) Use of saline irrigation water, soil science. 95(4), pp.355-359. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00010694-196306000-00003 (Accessed 20 January 2020).

[14] Szabolcs, I., & Darab, C. (1964) The influence of irrigation water of high sodium carbonate content of soils, Proceedings of 8th international congress of ISSS, 2,pp. 803-812.

[15] Brindha, K., & Kavitha, R.(2015) Hydrochemical assessment of surface water and groundwater quality along Uyyakondan channel, south India, Environmental Earth Science, 73,pp. 5383- 5393.

[16] Houatmia, F., Azouzi, R. Cheref, A. & Bédir, M. (2016) Assessment of groundwater quality for irrigation and drinking purposes and identification of hydro-geochemical mechanisms evolution in Northeastern, Tunisia, Environmental Earth Sciences, 75 (9),pp. 1-7.

[17] Abeysingha, N. S., Silva D.S.M.D. & Duminda, D.M.S (2018b) Hydro Chemical Assessment of Agro-well Water for Irrigation in Thalawa Block in Mahaweli System-H in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, The Journal of Agricultural Sciences - Sri Lanka, 3(13),pp. 186-199.

[18] SLS 614 (2013) Sri Lanka Standard, Specification for potable water.

[19] Ayers, R.S., & Westcot, D.W. (1994) FAO Irrigation and Drainage paper, 29 Rev. 1, Reprinted 1989, 1994, ISBN 92-5-102263-1, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 1985. http://dx.doi.org/10.18356/241c79d2-en (Accessed 25 February 2020).

[20] Jeong, H., Kim, H., & Jang, T.(2016) Irrigation Water Quality Standards for Indirect Wastewater Reuse in Agriculture: A Contribution toward Sustainable Wastewater Reuse in South Korea, Water. 8, 169. https://doi.org/10.3390/w8040169 (Accessed 25 January 2020).

[21] Dissanayake, C.B. (2005) Water quality in the dry zone of Sri Lanka - some interesting health aspects. Journal of National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka, 33 (3),pp. 161-168.

[22] Young, S. M., Pitawala, A., & Gunatilake, J. (2010) Fate of phosphate and nitrate in waters of an intensive agricultural area in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, Paddy and Water Environment, 8,pp. 71-79.

[23] Yang, X., Wu, X., Hao, H.L., & He, Z.L. (2008) Mechanisms and assessment of water eutrophication, a Review. Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B, 9 (3), pp.197-209.

[24] Koda, E., Miszkowska, A. & Sieczka, A. (2017) Levels of Organic Pollution Indicators in Groundwater at the Old Landfill and Waste Management Site. Applied Sciences MDPI. 7, 638. https://doi.org/10.3390/app7060638 (Accessed 02 January 2020).

[25] SLS 722 (1985) Sri Lanka Standard, Tolerance limits for inland surface waters used as raw water for public water supply.

[26] Chochorek, A., Bobrowski, A., Kiralyova, Z & Mocak, J. (2010) ICP-OES Determination of Select Metals in Surface Water - a Metrological Study, Polish Journal of Environment. Stud, 19 (1),pp. 59-64.

[27] Jayatilake,N.,Mendis,S.,Maheepala,P.,&Mehta,F. R.(2013).Chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology :prevalence and causative actors in a developing country Nephrology,14,180-193. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2369-14-180

[28] Eaton, F.M. (1950) Significance of carbonates in irrigation waters. Soil Science. 69,pp. 123-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00010694-195002000-00004 (Accessed 25 February 2020).

[29] Wilcox, L.V. (1955) Classification and use of irrigation waters. U.S. Department of Agriculture Circular 969, Department of Agriculture, Washington. http://dx.doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.16960 (Accessed 25 September 2019).

[30] Freeze, R.A., & Cherry, J.A. (1979) Groundwater. Prentice Hall Inc, New Jersey. https://utpjournals.press/doi/10.3138/cmlr.35.4.746 (Accessed 25 January 2020).

[31] Doneen, L.D. (1964) Notes on water quality in agriculture. Published as a water science and engineering paper 4001, Department of Water Science and Engineering, University of California, Davis.

Downloads

How to Cite

Abeysingha, N. S., Dissanayake, S. P., Sumanaweera, S., & Silva, S. S. K. D. (2021). Cascade Tank Water Quality Management: A Case Study in Thirappane Tank Cascade System, Sri Lanka. Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 3(1), 59–70. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v3i1.3277

Issue

Vol. 3 , Iss. 1 (April 2021)

Article Type

Article

License

Copyright © 2021 Author(s)

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC