Building Water-security Solutions for Pacific Island Communities

Abstract

Pacific Island Communities are beset with serious water security expectations. Climate change, limited freshwater resources, and various economic constraints lead to challenges, requiring creative and sustainable water security solutions for PICs. In assessing sustainable water security solutions for PICs, we emphasized the combination of traditional systems and practices with modern technology (rainwater harvesting, and decentralized or community-owned desalination utility investment). For the study we employed a mixed-methods approach to include qualitative community consultation with quantitative hydraulic modelling. Five PICs were selected (Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu). Five hundred households were included in data gathering as well as fifty key informants. Overall, 75% of rural-relied upon self-supplied water for their basic usage. If you lived in a community with recognized seasonal water shortages, you were still subjected to make due. Findings identified the advantages of community-driven rainwater harvesting systems, the distributed network modeled using EPANET also gave hope to alternatives and resilience. Suggested hybrid solutions and focus on capacity building bolstered the urgency of regional collaboration for PICs to champion action. Hybrid solutions address commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6) by 2030 (for universal access to water).