Abstract:
Predominant prevalence and significant increase in the number of patients with Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) has been recorded from the communities other than
North Central Province. Uva Province is one of the risk areas among them. Present study was
conducted to identify CKDu prevailing areas in Badulla district and analyze the quality of water
resources of particular potential areas. CKDu prevailing areas in Badulla district was identified
through the available data at district secretariat office, divisional secretariat (DS) offices and
gramasewa offices. Water samples were collected from wells that were used to drink by CKDu
affected households for five to ten years of time and from reservoirs in the area. A set of water
samples from Mahiyangana DS (wells n = 17 and reservoirs n = 3), Rideemaliyadda DS (wells
n = 5, and reservoirs n = 4), and Kandaketiya DS (n = 5) were collected from January to March
in 2019. They were analyzed for basic water quality parameters such as pH, electric conductivity (EC), alkalinity and dissolved oxygen (DO). Sampling sites were recorded using a Global
Positioning System (GPS) navigation device and developed a Geographic Information System
(GIS) spatial map of the distribution of the CKDu habitats within Badulla district using QGIS
3.8 software. Mahiyanganaya and Rideemaliyadda DS were identified as CKDu prevailing areas in Badulla district and Kandaketiya DS identified as the recently CKDu emerged area. pH
and EC of both wells and reservoirs samples in three potential areas were within the permissible
limits defined by Sri Lanka Standards for potable water – SLS 614: 2013. However, pH of the
well water site 16 and reservoir site 3 in Mahiyangana DS were very close to exceed the maximum desirable pH limit. Alkalinity of well water samples were within the permissible limits
where the range lies between 30 mg L-1 - 125 mg L-1, 20 mg L-1 - 85 mg L-1 and 20 mg L-1
- 55 mg L-1 in Mahiyangana, Rideemaliyadda and Kandaketiya DS respectively. Further, DO
level in all three DS were within the safe levels for drinking with regard to SLS standards.
