Current Patterns in the Use of Domestic Wells in the Villages in Devinuwara Divisional Secretariat Division, Southern Sri Lanka

Abstract

At present, freshwater is rapidly becoming scarce with increasing competition from humans for different purposes and climate change. In this context, sustainable use and conservation of freshwater aquifers, water use efficiency, and wastewater reuse at the domestic level play a significant role in solving water management challenges and food security. Domestic well use pattern, very unique to Sri Lankan villages for centuries, is mutually connected with the society, environment, and culture. However, nowadays the village lifestyle has been changing with increasing the standard of living of people. It leads to change their traditional behavior when they use natural resources like domestic wells. Accordingly, such changes affect the sustainability of wells and domestic food security. Therefore, this study examines the current patterns in the use of domestic wells aiming to identify the factors affecting such behavioral changes and their impacts. Five Grama Niladari Divisions like Pathegama East, Thalalla North, Naotunna, Uda Aparekka, and Kadawadduwa East in Devinuwara Divisional Secretariat Division were selected purposively. The sample consists of 100 dug well owners. While the sampling was stratified random, the data analysis was carried out using SPSS 17.0. Findings show that only 24 % of well owners directly accessed to their wells daily to fulfill their water requirement. 76% of well owners did not directly access to their wells daily as they have pumped water. The main reasons for that were due to easiness and save time (33%), easiness and water depth (24%), location and water depth (14%), and the location of the wells (8%). According to the chi-square test, it was statistically proved that there is no relationship with adoption of pumped water to the distance of the well from home (P value= .627), the number of family members (P-value = .089), well depth (P-value =.174) and occupation of the housewives (P value=.107). Further, it was revealed that 60% of well owners did not use land near wells for crop cultivation. In contrast, 39% of householders have planted crops near their water tanks while 77% of respondents planted crops near their outdoor taps. 60% of well owners’ wives maintained their kitchen gardens using well water. 47% of well owners’ wives used once used well water to maintain their kitchen gardens while 53% of them did not utilize kitchen greywater for any purposes. Accordingly, this study statistically proved that there is a relationship between the attitude of the housewives regarding water conservation at home and greywater reuse (P value= .000). Further, this study also found negative impacts of the absence of direct connection with wells such as lack of knowledge about the changes in water level, water quality, domestic well condition, and dryness of surrounding well environment. This study highlights the significance of enhancing knowledge about managing and protecting well resources, domestic water conservation, water use efficiency, kitchen garden maintenance for sustainable water, and food security at the domestic village level.