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Some problems associated with tube well programmes in Sri Lanka

Quelques problèmes liés aux programmes des forages pour l'exploration de l'eau au Sri Lanka

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Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology - Bulletin de l'Association Internationale de Géologie de l'Ingénieur Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The groundwater circulation is limited in Sri Lanka because nine tenth area of the island is underlain by metamorphic hard rocks which are generally very impermeable. Therefore to satisfy the water demand some other possibilities of water resources should be explored before starting a groundwater investigation programme for a given area.

Preliminary data collection is very important to assess groundwater storage. But the required data are not freely available for any river basin. Geological informations and groundwater levels obtained from dug wells are necessary to get a general idea on its occurrence. The present construction methods of the dug wells do not facilitate to flow water freely. Sources of contaminations and errors in geophysical measurements are the other important problems arising during investigations. The design and construction of each well should be individually done to suit the heterogeneous nature of each location. But it would be difficult to conduct individual analysis because of the lack of laboratory facilities closer to the well sites.

There are no acceptable scientific programmes for the future developments of groundwater in Sri Lanka. The main aim of the existing projects is to construct a certain number of tube wells (irrespective of the demand) for each area. The geoscientists have no choice to construct a tube well at the appropriate location due to the interference of some sociological problems in some areas. Therefore it is necessary to establish a Groundwater Research Institute in Sri Lanka.

Résumé

Au Sri Lanka les circulations d'eau souterraines sont limitées, les neuf dixièmes de l'île ayant un substratum de roches métamorphiques dures qui sont généralement imperméables.

Le rassemblement de données préliminaires est indispensable avant toute implantation de forages d'exploitation. Mais les données nécessaires ne sont pas disponibles pour tous les bassins. Des informations géologiques ainsi que le niveau piézométrique obtenu à partir de puits sont nécessaires; mais les méthodes actuelles de construction des puits ne facilitent pas l'écoulement libre de l'eau. La conception et la construction de chaque puits devrait tenir compte des hétérogénéités propres à chaque implantation.

Il n'existe pas de programmes scientifiques liés aux problèmes de l'exploitation de l'eau souterraine au Sri Lanka. Le seul programme existant actuellement est la construction systématique de puits sans tenir compte de la demande, ni des problèmes liés aux implantations. Il serait utile de mettre sur pied au Sri Lanka un Institut pour la Recherche sur les eaux souterraines.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    U. de S. Jayawardena

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  1. U. de S. Jayawardena
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Jayawardena, U.d.S. Some problems associated with tube well programmes in Sri Lanka. Bulletin of the International Association of Engineering Geology 40, 97–103 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02590346

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