The journey to clean water has been a long struggle for many communities in the Malaita province in the Solomon Islands. But thanks to the kindness of generous Caritas Australia supporters and the Catholic Diocese of Auki, unclean water will soon be a thing of the past for many families.
Why do many families in the Solomon Islands lack access to clean water?
Many communities in the Solomon Islands rely on contaminated water sources, leading to waterborne diseases like diarrhea and cholera. Limited access to safe water also hampers hygiene, increasing the risk of malnutrition and child mortality.
The Malaita Province in the Solomon Islands faces unique challenges that make it particularly vulnerable to issues related to clean water access.
Geography
The population in Malaita is spread across both coastal areas and more inland regions. Its mountainous terrain and scattered settlements make it difficult to establish and maintain widespread water supply systems.
Limited infrastructure
Many areas lack proper water treatment and distribution systems, which results in unsafe drinking water. The infrastructure that does exist is often poorly maintained, and repair or expansion is hindered by limited resources and the difficulty of accessing remote areas.
Climate change
Malaita is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, particularly rising sea levels and extreme weather events. The island is prone to floods, droughts, and cyclones, which can damage water supply systems, contaminate freshwater sources, and disrupt rainwater collection.
How your support helped improve access to clean water
The Common Home project, run in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Auki, aims to improve access to water, hygiene and sanitation and disaster risk management. The project works with communities to rehabilitate gravity-fed water systems, construct sanitation facilities and increase their capacity to respond to emergencies.
With your generous support, 41 water taps were constructed last month with running water that can now benefit up to 550 people. All the local materials such as sand and gravel were transported on site as part of the community contribution towards the project, which involved the construction of freshwater dams, storage tanks and installation of stand taps.
The village leaders were in tears when they share their appreciation to Caritas Australia and Auki Diocese for solving their long-lasting cry for proper water supply.
Their cooperation and involvement towards the project really show that they are happy with the project. They want to thank Caritas Australia because it feels like their standard of living is being improved from the past.”
Testing out the new water taps that have been constructed in the Malaita province. Photo: Catholic Diocese of Auki
Having accessible clean water has been a game-changer for remote communities living in the Malaita province in Solomon Islands.
Francisca washing her hands outside a new latrine. Photo: Catholic Diocese of Auki
The project also focuses on building pit latrines and handwash stations to improve sanitation in the community, as well as training to promote hygiene and eliminate open defecation.
Community ownership of the project fosters long-term sustainability
This project has met a basic need of a remote community but more importantly also empowered the community to take ownership of the project.
The communities were heavily involved in the consultation and design of the project and one of the strategic goals of the project was for the parish community to have ownership to a sustainable water supply. The project also encourages community members to undertake regular maintenance of the water supplies and to develop by-laws to safeguard the system for future generations.
