Attached
The Ratmalana- Moratuwa area located in the south of Colombo has
developed as an industrial residential suburb of Colombo in the 1950's. It
has been revealed that the environmental problems in the area are very acute
due to the activities of large number of industries. About 150 industries are
densely packed, within this area. Most of these industries are non- agro based
industries they can be categorized in to several groups such as paint
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industries, galvanising industries, asbestos industries, dyeing and finishing,
pharmaceutical industries and battery manufacturing industries. According to
an investigation of discharges produced in the area it was found that major
part of the effluent was released via surface drainage to Lunawa and Bolgoda
Lake. The main issue associated with this industrial pollution is water
contamination. Even though many studies have been carried out on surface
water contamination, studies on ground water contamination have not been
done in detail. The intention of this study was to analyze ground water
samples at various sites of the industrial zone and to relate the results to the
present industrial activities of the area. From these studies it was found that
the chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels far exceed the acceptable
portable water quality standards, indicating high chemical pollution. In
addition it was found that Chemical pollutants are present in the ground
water. Biological oxygen demand (BOD) has exceeded the tolerant limits for
portable water level at several locations. The trace metals that exceed the
levels are Zn , Fe, Cd, Pb and Ni which had not been noted in a previous
study done by De Silva et at. (1986)
Low pH values in some of the samples indicate water contamination with
acids. Some samples have been contaminated with acids and it was revealed
by low pH of some samples. Most industries in the area dispose their
effluents directly in to the drainage system without any prior treatments.
Ground water contamination is thought to be a direct consequence of these
inefficient effluent systems. This study discusses the analytical results of
water samples taken from various locations of the industrial area and
describes the industrial activities in the area that might have caused this ,.
ground water contamination, and discusses possible health effects due to use
of polluted water as a source of potable water in this well water
