Browsing by Author "Hikkaduwa, HN"

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item: Conference-Abstract
Acceptance of reed bed sewer treatment system with owner-driven method for bulk resettlement projects – a case study
Hikkaduwa, HN; Halwatura, RU
Tsunami, which made a massive damage and which made a massive resettlement in the country let the government, NGOs (None Governmental Organizations) as well as the community to rethink of their traditional construction methods as well as the sustainability. More than the construction, the high concentration of dwellings led high level of environmental pollution due to massive discharge of waste. Above all sewer was the key, since many of the house owners were not used to proper hygienic practices. Human practice was to release there sewers directly or indirectly to the environment without an appropriate treatment. Physically it can be evident that some of the reservoirs and cannels were polluted drastically due to release of sewers directly to it and with the amount added to natural environments difficult to bear with its treatment capacity. So, more than introducing sustainable cost effective means, it was more important to train them as well as motivate them for best hygienic practices. Hence, Reed bed sewer treatment mechanism was design with respect to SLS 745:2003 and constructed under the tsunami recovery program, American Red Cross in 2009.Through that it showed the optimistic level on treatment of sewer and people involvement in construction of their sanitation system (Owner-driven) and home gardening with the treated sewer waste water. The research was carried out to investigate the acceptance of the new system as well as to investigate the pluses and minuses with the new system. The housing schemes were reviewed with respect to sewer systems and a detail survey was carried out to investigate how the household have accepted the system. Even though the systems were design and constructed using the standards, since there wasn’t much follow up by the respective officials the process was abundant at few places. However, it was noted that people are keener to go for new systems, which has some visible extra benefits such as gardening. Further, this surely will be a good option for the ongoing massive resettlements in north and northeast for war victims, since the water is an issue as well as most of of the areas are running less water for gardening and the water table is considerably law.
item: Conference-Full-text
Sustainable Approaches to the Municipal Solid Waste Management in Sri Lanka
(2016-01-04) Hikkaduwa, HN; Gunawardana, KW; Halwatura, RU; Hee, H
Abstract: Municipal solid waste (MSW) is a serious environmental & socioeconomic issue in Sri Lanka and Haphazard disposal, population growth, migration and rapid urbanization will accelerates the issue further. Comprehensive and accurate measurement of waste generation and disposal continues to be an issue at national, provincial and local levels. The present composition of solid waste collection by the Municipal Councils 49.5% (1,696 Mt), Urban Councils 17.4% (594.5 Mt) and “Pradesiya Saba” Areas 33.1% (1,133 Mt). Conversely, through the several government and non- government projects were operating towards the National Solid Waste Management (NSWM). Further they were have been conducted the analyses for their internal use. However, there is no proper mechanism to coordinate this information and research, or to compile results with an intergraded approach. Appropriate estimations and evolutionary predictions will sustain new projects by minimizing difficulties. Previous data were shows approximately MSW is contain 50 - 65% readily bio-degradable waste or organic component and the balance is inorganic component. Low calorific values recoded in organic fraction of waste and it is possible to use as raw material of composting or bio-gas generation. And the receiving part of the waste should be running through the material recovery facility (MRF) and the residue has to incinerations and finally to landfilling. With the current situation there is a possibility of earning 20-22 US$ from a one metric ton of mixed MSW. There is no proper focus into the Cleaner Development Mechanism (CDM) to the current MSW management project as well as there is no focused in to Intergraded Solid Waste Management (ISWM) in the country. This paper suggested that the importance of ISWM by maintaining a sustainable composite mechanism through locally – available materials and expertise, with evidence based approach planning and strategy through eliminating the potential risks to provide a clean, healthy pleasant living environment and resource management culture for current and future generations of Sri Lanka.