Infrastructure

1. Securing safe and reliable water for growing communities

   A major public water utility or municipal authority, Sri Lanka's national authority responsible for safe drinking water and sanitation, awarded Ion Exchange an integrated water supply project covering the Divisional Secretariat areas of Kalutara, Dodangoda, Beruwala, Mathugama and Agalawatta, along with the Urban Councils of Kalutara and Beruwala in the Kalutara District.

   Designed to meet water demand up to 2030, the project covers a population of approximately 573,000. A key challenge was the increasing salinity of drinking water caused by seawater ingress during summer, alongside the need to expand the water distribution network to serve a larger population.

2. Ion Exchange's scope

   Ion Exchange delivered an integrated solution covering:

   • Establishment of a new water intake system
   • Construction and rehabilitation of water treatment plants
   • Refurbishment of existing intake infrastructure
   • Construction of towers and reservoirs
   • Transmission pipelines connecting treatment facilities with storage infrastructure
   • Distribution pipelines to designated villages
   • Automation and SCADA-based remote monitoring
   • Training and operational support
   • Operation & maintenance support
   • Offices, workshops and staff accommodation for the Water Board

   The project brought together water treatment, water storage, transmission, distribution, automation and long-term operational support into a single integrated infrastructure solution.

3. The impact

   By strengthening the water supply network and addressing seasonal salinity challenges, the project supports reliable access to safe water for communities across the region. It demonstrates how integrated planning, technology and lifecycle support can create resilient water infrastructure capable of meeting future demand.

Project Highlight:573,000 population coverage | Demand horizon: 2030 | Integrated water supply | Treatment | Storage | Transmission | Distribution | SCADA | O&M

1. Turning seawater into a reliable source of freshwater

   Water scarcity in North Africa, intensified by climate change and declining rainfall, is creating an urgent need for sustainable and reliable alternative water sources. Ion Exchange is contributing to this challenge through the execution of large-scale seawater desalination projects serving industrial and community requirements.

   Ion Exchange has successfully executed desalination projects with capacities of 40 MLD and 240 MLD, with an additional 60 MLD project under execution.

2. 40 MLD desalination plant

   Commissioned in October 2023, the 40 MLD desalination plant incorporates a complete desalination system with sand filtration as pre-treatment followed by reverse osmosis (RO).

   The project adopted sand filtration as the pre-treatment process instead of the conventional ultrafiltration approach used for desalination, demonstrating Ion Exchange's ability to engineer treatment configurations suited to project requirements.

3. 240 MLD SWRO skid plant

   The 240 MLD seawater reverse osmosis project was initiated in January 2024, with Ion Exchange supplying the RO package. 120 MLD of the total capacity was operational by December 2024, with the balance planned for completion.

   Both desalination facilities incorporate automation and remote monitoring, enabling efficient and reliable operation.

4. Creating sustainable water security

   The projects provide an alternative source of high-quality water for industrial and community applications, reducing dependence on conventional freshwater resources and supporting long-term water security.

   The initiative also contributes to sustainable development by promoting efficient water management and supporting SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Project Highlights:40 MLD | Commissioned October 2023 | Sand filtration + RO240 MLD SWRO | RO package supplied by Ion Exchange | 120 MLD operational by December 202460 MLD | Under execution