Polonnaruwa, SRI LANKA – On October 16, 2023, in the Polonnaruwa District of the North Central Province of Sri Lanka, a groundbreaking ceremony for the self-contained water-flush sewage treatment system AQUAMAKE was conducted as part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Overseas Expansion Support-Promotion and Demonstration Project, and was implemented by Eiwa Land Environment Co., Ltd (Eiwa Land), Yasugi Shoten Co., Ltd., and Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd. (OC Global). The ceremony was attended by Professor Gamini Ranasinghe, Director General of the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) and the Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and Minister of Irrigation from the Sri Lankan government, as well as Hideo Mizukoshi, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, and Tetsuya Yamada, Head of the JICA Sri Lanka Office representing Japan.

AQUAMAKE installed toilet facility

AQUAMAKE information board

Local media interview

AQUAMAKE facility visit

In Sri Lanka, the discharge of untreated sewage into rivers and other water bodies is a pressing issue, leading to deteriorating hygiene conditions and water pollution in source rivers. The country aims to achieve 100% access to both off-site (sewerage facilities) and on-site (septic tanks) sanitation facilities by 2025. This project was undertaken to address the water quality pollution resulting from inadequate sewage treatment in the region of the Gal Vihara (Nirvana Statue) within the Polonnaruwa World Heritage site, managed by the CCF.

Through the introduction of one AQUAMAKE unit by Eiwa Land, which includes toilet facilities for demonstration and promotion, efforts were made to improve the treated water quality, establish an operation and maintenance system, and conduct awareness campaigns for government agencies and private sector stakeholders.

The introduced AQUAMAKE unit features a self-contained environmental conservation system that utilizes oyster shells and other natural materials. This advanced treatment purifies over 90% of the wastewater, resulting in odorless, colorless water with zero presence of E. coli bacteria. The treated water is then recycled within the toilet, eliminating the need for water replenishment and providing a hygienic flush toilet. This approach helps restrain eutrophication of public water bodies, reduces environmental impact, and is environmentally friendly.

This demonstration project is expected to improve the treated water quality in the Polonnaruwa District and enhance the CCF’s capability in operating and maintaining the sewage treatment system.

AQUAMAKE Logo

OC Global contributes to the promotion of safe and hygienic toilets in the respective country (SDG 6) by introducing the AQUAMAKE self-contained water-flush sewage treatment system, thereby enhancing the health and well-being of the local residents (SDG 3).