Water Board Connection Fee in Sri Lanka (2025 Rates)
December 25, 2025
Water Board Connection Fee in Sri Lanka (2025 Rates)
No water, no house.
The National Water Supply & Drainage Board (NWSDB) provides the lifeline. Getting connected is bureaucratic but essential.
1. New Connection Cost
The fee depends on the distance from the main road line to your meter.
- Application Fee: Rs. 500.
- Estimation: The engineer visits to measure distance.
- Base Fee (~5 meters): Rs. 25,000 - 35,000 (Domestic).
- Road Cutting: If they need to cut the carpet road, YOU pay the RDA damages. This can be Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 200,000!
Tip: If the main line is on the opposite side of the road, try to tap from a neighbor's line on your side (with consent) to avoid road cutting charges.
2. Monthly Tariffs (2025)
Water is tiered. The more you use, the higher the unit price.
- 0-5 Units: Cheap (Lifeline rate).
- 20-25 Units: Expensive.
- 50+ Units: Penalty rates.
3. Changing Ownership
Buying a secondhand house? Change the bill name immediately.
- Documents: Deed copy, previous bill, grama niladhari letter.
- Deposit: You must pay a new refundable deposit (Rs. 1,000 - 5,000).
Conserve water. NWSDB Website Link