This study was conducted to understand the interactions between irrigation water management and water quality (agro-ecological interactions). The Uda Walawe basin, in Southern Sri Lanka was chosen as the study area. Fluctuations in water quality, especially microbiological water quality, affect human health. Since the source of domestic water (drinking and washing) in this region is from the irrigation system, there is a concern for the human health effects. All the potential water sources and the water use habits of the community were identified. The water quality of these sources was then monitored for a period of 5 months (August--December 2000). Second, the water management of the Uda Walawe irrigation system was linked to the differences in water quality. The best quality water was found to come from the shallow wells (seepage water from the irrigation system). Both quantity and quality of the water were shown to fluctuate with canal construction (earthen or concrete) and irrigation water management.

No description available.