33% of SI population have no access to basic drinking water, amongst lowest in world

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A latest report on access to water in Solomon Islands shows steadily declining numbers since 2000s with 33% of the current population having no access to basic drinking water and 65% being deprived of basic sanitation systems.

According to Community Water Management Plus (PAcWaM+) report released today it says that these statistics are inflated in rural areas, where 35% of the community depend on unprotected and difficult-to-access drinking water and 82% use unhygienic and inadequate sanitation services.

The report states that the Solomon Islands are in the lowest 20 countries for rural access to basic drinking water globally.

“Inadequate access to safe water contributes to both communicable and non-communicable diseases, enhancing the spread of infection and exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition,” the report, states.

It further states that Inadequate water and sanitation underlie many critical public health issues in Pacific Island countries, including diarrhoea, typhoid, leptospirosis, malnutrition and respiratory infections. Insufficient and poor-quality water and sanitation during childhood can lead to long-term health and developmental issues.

For example, childhood stunting and wasting occurs in 8% (Fiji), 29% (Vanuatu) and 33% (Solomon Islands) of children under 5.

According to the report, of the fourteen countries and territories typically classified as PICs, only Papua New Guinea experiences lower access to clean drinking water than Solomon Islands.

Like in the Solomons, around the world, community-managed water supply systems in rural areas face distinct challenges compared to larger urban systems, including a higher risk of breakdown, limited financial resources, and reliance on undertrained operators.

The report points out that in the Solomon Islands, many WCs struggle to effectively operate and maintain their water supply system due to a range of factors, including inactive WCs, insufficient finances (a lack of water fee/fundraising for spare parts), and (sometimes) limited technical capacity. In short, despite the introduction of the community engagement training,  most WCs in Solomon Islands remain reactive rather than proactive and largely fail to fulfil their responsibilities as detailed in the governments RWASH policy (see below).Water committees typically face the following barriers in attempting to achieve durable, long-term water system functionality:

• Delivery systems designed for single sources of water

• Lack of community training in operation and maintenance

• Lack of clear management responsibility

• Lack of follow-up support from implementing agencies for

Meanwhile in the Solomons, the key government stakeholders involved in rural water delivery in Solomon Islands: The rural WASH sector is the responsibility of the Rural WASH Program (RWASH), situated within the Environmental Health Division (EHD) – which has four units – and sits at the national level of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS). EHDs primary task is to protect and promote a healthy environment to sustain “resilient and healthy communities” and is also responsible for coordinating requests and projects between local communities and other stakeholders (e.g., the MHMS and NGOs), as well as overseeing monitoring and evaluation activities.

The National Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (RWASH) Program regulates the dispersal of national funding, materials and labour towards rural WaSH projects, often through the development of selection criteria to prioritise such actions. Alongside the MHMS, RWASH establishes national water and sanitation standards and appropriate community training campaigns. The RWASH must also coordinates with the National Disaster Management Office, Church groups and the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development for the implementation of proactive WaSH interventions and timely response to new hazards in water management.

The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification (MMERE) is responsible for the overall management and regulation of the water resources, while the MHMS, through the Environmental Health Division, RWASH unit and Rural WASH Program, are responsible for the provision of safe water supply and monitoring sanitation conditions for the rural population. RWASH coordinates the sector and regulates infrastructure.