Tackling CKDu through Rain Water Harvesting
Chronic Kidney Disease of Uncertain Aetiology (CKDu) afflicts dry zone farming communities in six out of nine provinces in Sri Lanka. Official statistics suggest that there are around 70,000 CKD/CKDu patients in these areas and that there are around 5,000 CKDu deaths each year. Recent research provides compelling evidence that drinking water with high metal content contributes to this disease. Rainwater harvesting offers a viable alternative to contaminated ground water and we hope to expand our activities in this area. The cost of installing a rain water harvesting system based on a 7 ft, 5,000 litre tank is just USD 600 – a small price to pay for a family’s future.
