Drinking Water Quality on Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Aetiology (CKDu) in Ulagalla Cascade, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown aetiology (CKDu) is one of the major health issues in Northern part of Sri Lanka that recorded highest mortality and morbidity rates. The main responsible reason for the CKDu has not yet been identified and hence many scientists have suggested number of certain risk factors where the CKDu-mfo (CKDu multi-factorial origin) term derived. However it relates with certain drinking water quality parameters strongly. This study was focused on evaluating the drinking water quality of Ulagalla cascade in Anuradhapura district with admiration to CKDu. Thirty wells and twenty tanks were selected as sampling locations for groundwater (GW) and surface water (SW) respectively from the cascade. Water quality parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, Sodium (Na +), Magnesium (Mg 2+), Calcium (Ca 2+), Potassium (K +), Arsenic (As 2+), Lead (Pb 2+), Cadmium (Cd 2+), Ammonium Nitrogen (NH4 +-N), Nitrate Nitrogen (NO3-N), alkalinity, Sulphate (SO4 2-, Chloride (Cl-) and Phosphate (PO4 3-) were analysed and observed parameters were compared with drinking water quality standards. In GW turbidity, Mg, Cland Cd were not significantly different from the maximum permissible level (p>0.05) while SW has shown significant difference only for the turbidity (p>0.05). Both well and tank water samples from Thodamaduwa were polluted by Cd which exceeded the maximum permissible level standards. It was recorded as averages of 0.15, 0.13 and 0.019 ppb for 3 identified polluted wells in GW and 0.01ppb in tank water. Accordingly the study it can be suggested that cumulative levels of heavy metals (such as Cd) may be aggravating the CKDu in the Northern Central Parts in Sri Lanka.

Heavy metal contamination and accumulation in groundwater and food crops in Sri Lanka: a review

“…Wickramarathna et al (2017) emphasized that Cd, As and Pb contamination in groundwater and surface water in regions of Uva province Girandurukotte, Nikawewa (NCP) and Central Province (Wilgamuwa), however not exceeded permissible levels (Figure 1.). A study by Wanasinghe et al (2018) at Ulagalla cascade, Anuradhapura district (North Central Province -NCP) revealed the groundwater system in this area is contaminated with As, Pb and Cd with range of 0.03 µg/L -0.44 µg/L, 1.76 µg/L -8.85 µg/L and 0.01 µg/L-0.15 µg/L respectively. However, they further highlighted that concentration of those are below the maximum permissible level of SLS and WHO drinking water quality standards (As and Pb -10 µg/L and Cd -3 µg/L).…”

Health Education for Making Consumer Empowered; Evidence From Chronic Kidney Disease Endemic Regions in Sri Lanka

“…After Sri Lanka with recorded in 1991 in Madwachchiya it is observed the increasing number of patients diagnose as CKDu patients initially from the dry zone of the country (Wanasinghe et al, 2018). This expanding up to 11 districts of the country making the issue spread island wield.…”

“…With the increasing number of patients recorded with the contradictory findings on the cause of CKDu has been increased the concerns by individuals in using preventive methods for CKDu (De Silva, 2014). The consumer awareness on the preventive methods been based on the information received from the different parties including regulatory bodies and the commercial institutes (Wanasinghe et al, 2018). In this the consumer awareness programmes in different names being identified as the one of the key source of communicate with the consumers (Wijkström et al, 2018).…”

An Air Operated Domestic Brackish Water Reverse Osmosis Plant: Economically Sustainable Solution for Safe Drinking Water Supply for Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology Affected Areas in Sri Lanka

“…Moreover, a smaller version of domestic use electrically driven BWRO plant was also introduced to the rural farmer community for their domestic use. However, it did not practically work out due to various reasons such as high cost, unavailability of electrical power supply for those villages [4].…”