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Hello again from the Water Sector! Time does fly for busy people but crawls for lazy ones!!! We have once again approached the halfway

mark for the year 2005. Lots of things happened during the past 6 months as you shall see when you flip through the pages of this Issue of WATS’ News.

World Water Day (WWD) this year was a ‘full-house’ down at the Holiday Inn in Suva and at least 6 Pacific Island Countries (PIC) came back to us with positive responses on their WWD activities in each of their respective countries.

Ms Sarah Davies represented SOPAC at the 10th regional meteorological service directors meeting in Niue and also assisted their Water Supply Division in executing programme support for the establishment of a groundwater monitoring system and we also

hosted the 2nd Hydrological Training Course on Surface & Groundwater for the Pacific with representatives from 13 PICs.

Staff News Since the last Issue, we have had three new additions to Water.

Mr Kamal Khatri, replaced Ms Rhonda Bower as the new WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Officer.

Mr Tasleem Hasan took over from Mr Sarabjeet Singh as our Water Quality Officer and Ms Shivanjani Naidu, has just recently been recruited as Project Officer for the Pacific Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Water Management.

Also joining the team is Ms Linda Yuen, a recent BSC graduate from the University of the South Pacific in Environmental Science. She will be on a 4-month attachment with our Water and Sanitation sector under the Community Lifelines programme and we hope she enjoys her short stay with us.

Volume 6 Issue 1June 2005

In this Issue

Staff News

World Water Day — 2005

Niue follow-up meeting

2nd Hydrological Training Course

Did you know... Facts about water use

Pacific Type II Partnership Initiative

Wastewater Management Demo

Rainwater Harvesting Outcomes

Wassup

News Flash

Announcements

Water Quotes

New Water Publications

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Tasleem Hasan

Kamal Khatri

Shivanjani Naidu

Linda Yuen

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World Water Day – 2005

Each year, March 22 is celebrated globally as World Water Day to promote access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation facilities. “Water for Life” is the theme for this year’s World Water Day and marks the launch of the International Decade for Action on “Water for Life” 2005-2015.

As in previous years, SOPAC coordinated the Pacifi c regional component of the World Water Day campaign and events together with Live and Learn Environmental Education. “Plan for Water – Plan for Life – Water for Life” is the slogan for this year’s campaign for which awareness materials were produced comprising posters, school activity booklets, calendars and stickers.

This year, an Exhibition and Youth Forum was held at the Holiday Inn in Suva from 10am to 12noon on Tuesday 22nd March 2005. The event was open to the public and was attended by school students, teachers (40 primary and secondary school participated), NGO’s, the private sector, donor organizations and government ministries.

Greenpeace, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Department of Environment, Fiji Institute of

Technology (FIT), Fiji Red Cross, Public Works Department (PWD), World Health Organization (WHO), Live and Learn Environmental Education and SOPAC put up display booths.

The Youth Forum was organised to get young people together to allow them to discuss what actions needed to be taken to prevent environmental pollution which has possible implications on water quality and human health in rural and urban communities in Fiji.

The Representative of the Trade Mission of the Republic of Taiwan, Mr Sherman S. Kuo, offi cially opened the Exhibition as the chief guest. Mr Steve Iddings, Environmental

Students view exhibitions at the Holiday Inn for WWD 2005.

Representative of the Trade Mission of Taiwan, Mr Sherman Kuo opening the WWD 2005 Exhibition.

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Health Engineer from the World Health Organization (South Pacifi c Region) and SOPAC Deputy Director, Dr Russell Howorth also addressed the audience.

Positive feedback was received from Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Papua New Guinea. In Vanuatu, World Water Day was celebrated in Tanna with efforts from the National Water Committee Task Force from the Department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources at Port Vila together with representatives from various governmental institutions dealing with water, sanitation and also a few NGOs.

Niue Follow-up Meeting

In Niue progress is being made towards establishing a groundwater monitoring programme for the island, an important step to help protect the resource into the future.

Niue does not have any surface water sources so islanders are entirely dependent upon groundwater for their potable, agricultural and commercial water needs.

Earlier this year Niue secured funding from the UNESCO Participation Grant Programme to help set up groundwater monitoring and in April, during a visit by Sarah Davies, the drawing up of a detailed workplan began. A drilling rig will be on the island in July, a relatively rare event in Niue, so the local water division manager is working hard to make the most of the opportunity to drill not only production bores but monitoring sites as well.

As part of the April visit Sarah also attended the 10th Regional Meteorological Service

Directors (RMSD) Meeting. The RMSD meetings are organised by SPREP and have the active participation of US NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), as well as the National Meteorological Services in the region including Australia and New Zealand.

The theme for this year’s meeting was “To prepare for extreme weather events in the Pacifi c Region and to strengthen communication between National Meteorological Services and the community.” In line with the theme SOPAC presented on recent work from the Community Risk Programme on Disaster Mitigation and Preparedness as well as the various activities of the water group aimed at improving water management in the region by promoting dialogue on water and climate. In particular the proposal for Pacifi c HYCOS (Hydrological Cycle Observing System) was highlighted with its possible linkages to Pacifi c GCOS (Global Climate Observing System), whose co-ordinator is based at SPREP, and Pacifi c GOOS (Global Ocean Observing System) whose co-ordinator is based at SOPAC.

2nd Hydrological Training Course on Surface & Groundwater

The 2nd Hydrological Training course on Surface & Groundwater for Hydrology and Water Resources technicians from 13 Pacifi c Island countries, namely Cook Islands, FSM, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu ended on a high note at the Secretariat on the 22nd of April. The 3-week programme was aimed at providing specialized training to technical staff in the National Hydrological Services of participating Pacifi c Island countries to assemble, maintain and apply data and

Chow time — SOPAC Water staff relax after the event. (From left: Arieta Navatoga, Sarah Davies, Marc Overmars, Kamal Khatri, Vilisi Tokalauvere and Alena Lawedrau).

Participants of the RMSD meeting at a dinner hosted by the village of Hakupu, Niue.

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information on national water resources, and to be able to pass on this knowledge and skills to others, in the field of surface and groundwater hydrology.

Mr John Fenwick, Mr Pete Mason and Mr Mike Butler, all from NIWA (National Institute for Water & Atmospheric Research) developed the lecture material for Surface water hydrology and delivered the course.

Mr David Scott and Mr Tony Falkland were responsible for the Groundwater hydrology lecture material and delivery of course, with extra modules put in by our water quality officer, Tasleem, and Dr Kifle Kahsai from the University of the South Pacific.

The programme included classroom sessions and fieldwork on the island of Makuluva and at the water intake at the Savura Catchment. The overall emphasis was on the techniques of data collection, processing and analysis and other topics of relevance such as quality assurance and safety aspects for working in the field and the use of survey equipment.

A special thank you to the Fiji Meteorological Services team that hosted the trainees to a tour of the Fiji Met. complex at Nadi.

Plans are to have the 3rd and final course of the hydrology training programme run in 2006, thanks to funding being made available through NZAID.

Did you know...? Facts about water use

• Worldwide, 70% of the water that is withdrawn for human use is used for agriculture, 22% for industry and 8% is used for domestic services. In general, these proportions vary according to a country’s income: in low-and middle-income countries, 82% is used for agriculture, 10% for industry and 8% for domestic services. In high-income

countries, the proportions are 30%, 59% and 11%, respectively.

• Golf tourism has an enormous impact on water withdrawals — an eighteen-hole golf course can consume more than 2.3 million litres a day. In the Philippines, water use for tourism threatens paddy cultivation. Tourists in Grenada (Spain) generally use seven times more water than local people and this discrepancy is common in many developing tourist areas.

• Hydropower is already a major contributor to the world’s energy balance, providing 19% of total electricity production (2,740 terawatts per hour in 2001).

• Hotels and their guests consume vast quantities of water. In Israel, water use by hotels along the River Jordan is thought to contribute to the drying up of the Dead Sea, where the water level has dropped 16.4 metres since 1977.

Information from World Water Development Report ‘Water for People, Water for Life’ (http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/wwdr/table_contents.shtml#part1) and from the website Vital Water Graphics: Water use and management section http://www.unep.org/vitalwater/management.htm.

Pacific Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Water Management

The Pacific Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Water Management anticipates further support through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) who were the main orgnisers of the Water in Small Island Countries session at the 3rd World Water Forum. The ADB assisted with the establishment of a small coordination unit for the partnership as an attachment to SOPAC. The partnership is facilitated by SOPAC and includes governments, inter-governmental organizations, NGOs, donors and development agencies in the Pacific Region to implement the Pacific Regional Action Plan in as coordinated, efficient and effective a manner as possible. The expected outputs for the partnership for this 12-month pilot demonstration include: • Fully functional and effective Pacific

Partnership Coordination Unit; • Establishment of a dedicated website; • Distribution of material through CD Rom;

Hydrology students pose for a group photo at the end of the training course.

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• Establishment of a Partnership Database;

• Production of Quarterly Newsletters;

• Review implementation of the Pacific RAP through the Action Matrix; and

• Semi-Annual and Annual Report of Coordination Unit.

Wastewater Management Demonstration at Crusoe’s Retreat, Coral Coast, Fiji

The wastewater management demonstration was part of the Integrated Coast Management (ICM) project coordinated by the Institute of Applied Sciences (IAS), USP with support from the Coastal Resources Centre (CRC), University of Rhode Island and the Government of Fiji. The main focus of this project was to identify solutions for coastal waste management in order to reduce the algal bloom observed around coastal areas in Fiji. Some of the already on-going projects identified were the Wetlands at Tagaqe Village, Komave Village composting toilets and the waste management work done by International Waters Programme (IWP) in the Rewa Delta.

Crusoe’s Retreat resort was chosen as the pilot area to set up a secondary waste treatment system after consultation with experts from New Zealand and the United States. A good thing was that the resort offered to cater for all the costs of setting up such a system. Innoflow Technologies Limited was then contracted as they deal with installation of simple and effective secondary waste treatment systems. The system basically consisted of three major phases.

1. Primary treatment – takes place inside septic tanks. These were modified slightly by installing a filter at the outlet so that large solid matter (>3mm) does not pass through and move to the next phase.

2. Secondary treatment – the wastewater from the septic tank gets filtered again in a small chamber and moves to a large tank for

treatment. In this tank are specially designed filters that are used instead of the traditional sand filters. Its advantage is that it is more efficient for microbial growth and it will last a lifetime if properly maintained. The wastewater is recirculated four times through the filters before they move to the final phase.

3. Disposal – the treated waste is disposed to gardens for nutrient uptake by plants.

The main processes in a wastewater treatment system are nitrification and denitrification. Basically, the ammonia in waste is converted to nitrate (nitrification) and then the nitrate is changed to nitrogen gas (denitrification). When wastewater is not properly treated, a lot of nitrate is discharged into the sea and other water bodies like rivers and streams leading to algae problems. This treatment system set up at Crusoe’s changes about 75% of nitrate to nitrogen gas and about 15% is assumed as taken up by the plants. Hence only 10% would go out to the sea which will really help keep the reef ecosystem healthy.

Currently, the system is designed to treat only wastewater but if grease straps are installed then it can be used for domestic wastewater as well, provided no harsh disinfectant is used which could kill the bacteria needed for digestion of the waste.

The overall cost of setting up this secondary wastewater treatment system at Crusoe’s was about FJD 60,000.00 and it has the capacity to serve

A schematic diagram of the wastewater treatment system is provided above.

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between 15-20 bure units, about 45-60 people at the resort.

Rainwater Harvesting Demonstration Project outcomes

The UNEP-funded Rainwater Harvesting Demonstration Project in Vava’u Tonga is at its end and together with the completed water tanks constructed at the project sites, the project team have been able to also produce a participatory training manual on operation and maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems including aspects on water quality and health, community participation and awareness.

In addition to this, is the production of guidelines for implementing rainwater harvesting projects, including aspects on design criteria, water management, operation and maintenance, water quality and community participation and the production of a video profile of the project to promote rainwater harvesting and the participation of women in managing water resources in the Pacific Islands.

Copies of the publications and the video are now available from the Water Sector upon request and

could also be downloaded from SOPAC’s Virtual Library.

SOPAC Joint Contribution 178: Harvesting the Heaven: Guidelines for Rainwater Harvesting in Pacific Island Countries.

SOPAC Miscellaneous Report 544: Harvesting the Heavens: A manual for participatory training in rainwater harvesting.

Wassup

4th World Water Forum (4WWF) preparations

Mr Latu Kupa represented SOPAC at the 4WWF preparation meeting on 16-17 May in Jakarta. Latu presented the Pacific outcomes of the “Water in small Island Countries” session at the 3rd World Water Forum and attended the 4WWF preparation meeting in Mexico. Supported by Japan Water Forum funding, Latu provided a brief on regional status of action implementation and prospects for the participation of the region in 4WWF.

Federated States of Micronesia

Pohnpei and Kosrae in FSM have identified two sites to be developed as Biosphere Reserves under UNESCO’s World Heritage: the “And Atoll” in the state of Pohnpei and “Utwe Walung” in the state of Kosrae.

As part of the MAB-IHP joint programme on Biosphere Reserves for Sustainable SOPAC Miscellaneous

Report 544.

RWH video produced for Tonga Project.

SOPAC Joint Contribution 178.

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Community-driven Management of Natural Resources in Micronesia funded by Japan Funds in Trust it is proposed that a national assessment will be undertaken. The freshwater component, a water resource management study will be undertaken jointly with SOPAC. The resulting document will serve as a guideline for future UNESCO-IHP actions in FSM and the wider Micronesian subregion. A series of missions will be undertaken to both Pohnpei and Kosrae by SOPAC’s water resources and water quality officers to assist in this programme.

Cook Islands

Support will be given to Aitutaki to provide continued assistance for Water Resources Assessment and Monitoring following the mission by Sarah Davies and Marc Overmars to Aitutaki in December 2004.

Arrangements were made through SOPAC under UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme to allow further capacity building and technical assistance with Aitutaki’s water manager, building on the UNESCO/WMO/SOPAC Hydrological Training Course.

News Flash

Water still precious on struggling Pukapuka, Northern Cook Islands.

Water remains Pukapuka’s number one priority, says one observer who has been to the island recently.George Taikakara, who was seconded by Government to help train people to operate and maintain the new desalination plant, says he now appreciates how severe the need is for water.Taikakara says that point really struck home as soon as his charter flight arrived at Pukapuka, this week. People asked for water, he said, including the bottle that he took on board the flight.

The flight, which was initiated by Barbara Dreaver and a TVNZ crew, flew up on Tuesday for an overnight stay. A number of officials and assessment people including the Red Cross, and Taikakara, took advantage of the opportunity.

He is part Pukapukan and as an experienced maintenance manager with a strong background in Outer Islands’ programmes, Taikakara had some involvement in the training on Rarotonga prior to the shipment of the desalination equipment, which was donated by the French Government, last month.

When the team was welcomed to the island, the request was made clear that the island needed water — and food, particularly the non-perishables.For Taikakara’s purposes, a training procedure had to be quickly established so that the people could get some relief from the high demand on water. Sanitation is a crucial factor because the lack of water exposes the population to serious health risks.The desalination equipment must be operated in clean sea water — free from contaminants. This caused some difficulty because of the level of pollution that was already evident around the lagoon foreshore.

Although the equipment is operating above normal capacity — currently around 150 litres of fresh water per hour — it is not enough to be a primary source. Rather, the machinery will be an important addition to the overall efforts to build up reserves, says Taikakara.

Among those efforts, the maintenance manager says that the ‘repair of roofs on those houses with water tanks are a critical part of the recovery process’. The spouting and guttering is a key to rainwater catchment. Pukapuka is also receiving periodic shipments of water.

Taikakara says while he was on Pukapuka, he also became sensitive to the fact that the longer he and other outsiders stayed on the island, the more they added to the burdens already placed on) the people who lived there.

Cook Islands Times: <http://www.ciherald.co.ck/Times.htm>

Announcements

Pacific Hydrological Network e-mail group begins.

The Pacific Hydrological Network moderator has sent out invitations to all trainees of the recent 2nd Hydrological Training Course on Surface Water & Groundwater, 2005 to register as members of this e-mail group.

The group is made up of water officers and water technicians that work in the fields of either groundwater or surface water resources in their respective Pacific Island countries. The group shares ideas and issues on any matters related to water resource management in the Pacific and are also part of the Pacific Islands Hydrological Training network.

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initiative to increase participatory approaches in the sanitation sector.

(59 pages) TR0381 Water quality monitoring in Pacific Island

Countries. Revised Edition, February 2005. (Handbook for Water Quality Manager & Laboratories, Public Health Officers, Water Engineers and Suppliers, Environmental Protection Agencies and organisations involved in water quality monitoring)

(43 pages)TR0374 The effect of a cyclone on drinking water

quality and how best to protect public health when similar disasters occur.

TR0373 The Hydrogen-Sulphide paper-strip test - a simple test for monitoring drinking water quality in the Pacific Islands. (24 pages)

TR0372 Niue coastal water quality and groundwater resources assessment. (35 pages)

MR0579 Water quality of rainwater harvesting systems. (+ CD for volumetric calculations in Excel) (19 pages)

MR0577 Tapping connections between People and Water. (A handbook about connections between people and water) (44 pages)

MR0544 Harvesting the Heavens: A manual for participatory training in rainwater harvesting . (78 pages)

JC0178 Harvesting the Heavens: Guidelines for rainwater harvesting in Pacific Island Countries. (116 pages)

Send To:

SOPACWater & Sanitation

Sender: SOPAC SecretariatPrivate Mail Bag, GPO, Suva

Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the SOPAC Secretariat, neither does the mention of any firm or licensed process imply endorsement.

Adapted from the Fiji Times: Voice of the People

For those trainees that do not have an e-mail address, please ensure you open an e-mail account so that you could also benefit from this network. Group details are given below:

Group name: PICHydrologicalNetwork Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PICHydrologicalNetwork Group email address: PICHydrologicalNetwork@yahoogroups.com

Water Quotes

“If someone told you that it was ‘raining cats and dogs,’ would you call the Humane Society or don a raincoat?”

“You won’t miss the water till the well runs dry”.

New Water Publications available at http://www.sopac.org/tiki/tiki-sopac_virlib.php

TR0388 Equitable management of water and sanitation in Pacific Islands Countries.

(106 pages) TR0386 The Sanitation Park Project : A regional

Please send all contributions, comments & announcements to :Ms Alena Lawedrau-MorocaSOPAC SecretariatPrivate Mail Bag, Suva, FijiPh: (679) 3381377 Fax: (679) 3370040Email: alena@sopac.org