Donor agencies say Kiribati water issues are critical

Transcript

The Asian Development Bank says poor water supply and sanitation in Kiriabti is costing the country up to four per cent of its gross domestic product, or about 6.5 million US dollars, a year.

A new report has made the economic estimate to guide reforms and boost urban development in the densely populated South Tarawa area.

Jenny Meyer reports donor agencies are increasingly concerned about water in Kiribati.

The ADB's Pacific Urban Development Specialist Allison Woodruff says the low lying atoll has limited freshwater resources which are easily contaminated. She says residents receive piped water for only two hours every two days because of high leakage from the system.

ALLISON WOODRUFF: It's a fairly critical situation. And as well with the sanitation, the current sewage network has limited coverage and then also suffers from frequent overflows and blockages which poses a public health risk.

She says poorly functioning sanitation systems and practices are polluting the groundwater and the marine environment. Allison Woodruff says with three outbreaks of diarrheal disease every year and high infant mortality rates, vulnerable groups have the most to gain from money spent on improved water services.

The EU Commissioner on Development, Andris Piebalgs recently visited Kiribati and says a particular emphasis of investments will be on improving water supply.

ANDRIS PIEBALGS: Water first of all it is related to the health issue, so I think that is one issue. And second by their nature, Island States are very much exposed to risk with water their should be rain but then there could be months without rain. And this climate change pattern, nobody could predict if the traditional weather patterns will continue.

He says part of building resilience to climate change is improving access to water as it is also critical to growing food.

The head of SPC's Applied Geoscience and Technology Division Mike Petterson says access to water is a human right and the agency is working with the EU to assist Kiribati.

MIKE PETTERSON: So where ever we can we try and adopt the most appropriate sustainable technology. So in the case of water, it's looking after their natural ground water, making sure the piped water leaks as little as possible, and then looking after rain water harvesting.

On Christmas island, in the far east of Kiribati, George Beck is the Project Coordinator for the EU-SPC water project. He says a lot of the water infrastructure has broken down, meaning a truck needs to make daily water deliveries to some households and the hospital.

GEORGE BECK: So there is only about four or five wind or solar pumps currently working. And the pressure in the pipe is very low. So a lot of the houses near the water lens are receiving water while the houses at the other end of the water pipe especially the hospital which is one of the primary beneficiaries of the project are not receiving any water through the reticulated supply.

George Beck says the SPC project will both fix broken pumps and install a new piping system from the water lens through to the community over the next 18 months.