A Case Study of Honiara City, Solomon Islands

Impact of Urban Growth on Water-Supply and Sanitation: A Case Study of Honiara City, the Solomon Islands Lincy Pende A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Development Studies Development Studies Program School of Governance and Development Studies Faculty of Business and Economics The University of the South Pacific Suva. June, 2009 i A DECLARATION I, Lincy Pende, declare that this thesis is an original piece of work done by me. Where other sources have been used, these have been duly acknowledged. Any omission and error or otherwise is my own and the main content of this thesis has not previously submitted for any degree in any other University. ………………… Lincy Pende Date: A Statement by Supervisor I hereby confirm that the work contained in this thesis is of Lincy Pende unless otherwise acknowledged. ………………………. Dr. Manoranjan Mohanty Date: ii ABSTRACT Urbanisation is an inevitable process of development in developing countries. It presents both challenges and opportunities. In most of the developing countries however, the rate of urban growth outstretches the abilities of cities to cope. The urban growth put pressure on civic authorities, making them under-resourced in providing basic urban services at adequate levels. Consequently, cities and towns have become centers of more problems rather than opportunities for progress. The present study aims to investigate the impact of urban growth on the provision of water-supply and sanitation services in Honiara City. The study is underpinned by the key proposition that rapid urban growth has adverse impact on water and sanitation services. The study focused on assessing the state of water-supply and sanitation in Honiara covering their availability, quality and accessibility and the environmental and health problems associated with them. This study has been done both at a macro and micro level. The macro-level focused on Honiara City as a whole and covered the state of water and sanitation in terms of network distribution system and its capacity, demand and supply and, consumption per capita and the associated environmental and health problems. The micro-level analysis of water and sanitation issues was done at the household level. The study also covered the institutional aspects and assessed the effectiveness of civic authorities such as the Solomon Islands Water Authority (SIWA) and Honiara City Council (HCC) in dealing with water and sanitation issues in Honiara City. iii Although the study was largely based on a qualitative methodology but quantitative approach was also adopted. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used. The primary data was derived from a household survey covering 60 households in Honiara and from the key government officials. Primary data was obtained through interviews, household questionnaire, observation and a focus group discussion. The study found that water and sanitation demand in Honiara has been growing with rapid urbanisation and it outweighs supply. Honiara witnesses shortage of water and a poor quality of piped water-supply especially after heavy rain. Access to water-supply and sanitation by many residents was grossly inadequate. The civic authorities such as SIWA and HCC can not cope in meeting the growing water and sanitation needs. There is substantial water loss through pipe leakages and unaccounted–for- water in the City. The ability of civic authorities to meet the demand has been constrained by lack of financial and human resources, political will and institutional coordination. Indeed, the multiplicity of various agencies with overlapping functions by HMA/HCC, SIWA, Guadalcanal Provincial Authority and the National Government and lack of coordination between them make the water and sanitation service delivery in Honiara, problematic. The study suggests a more decentralized, demand-driven and a bottom-up planning and management approach with greater community participation in order to make the delivery system more effective. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this thesis was possible through the assistance and support rendered by many individuals to whom I wish to register my heartfelt gratitude. Without taking much ado, I would like to sincerely thank my Academic Supervisor, Dr. Manoranjan Mohanty of Development Studies Program, School of Governance and Development Studies, The University of the South Pacific, Suva, for his advice, guidance and support through the most challenging and difficult times in this academic journey. I also sincerely thank Professor Vijay Naidu, the Director of Development Studies at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, for granting me the approval to complete Development Studies program, without which this academic pursuit would not have been completed. I am greatly indebted to numerous people who rendered their professional assistance during the initial stage of write-up. More specifically, I wish to thank Dr. Tarcisius Tara Kabutaulaka from the University of Hawaii, USA, for giving his initial comments, suggestions and advice on the thesis chapters. Dr. Cliff Boyd, professor of Anthropology and co-director of forensic science at Radford University, USA also deserves my sincere thanks for making constructive comments and suggestions on the four chapters of this thesis despite his busy work schedule. v I am also grateful to my many academic colleagues and their families, notably Brian Lenga and family, John Fasi and family, Lionel Vuthia, Rolland Sade, Reginald Kukuti and John Gapu whose lively engagements and associations have provided me sources of inspirations for completing this thesis. I wish to thank the Solomon Islands Government for awarding me the Solomon Islands Government Scholarship and also the Solomon Islands Students Association (SISA) for their generous support towards the completion of this thesis. Last but not the least, I would like to thank my wife Sarah Koipu Pende and my three children, Amarell Nodimae Pendeverana, Shonnallie Ronunoda Pendeverana and Tallia Kekolimalona for their tireless patients and moral support. Although I have enjoyed every bit of the fight, my family has had to live with the tensions that such academic journey entails. Much of credit goes to my wife and three lovely children for their understanding and fortitude that made this journey possible. To all of you, tagio tumas! vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page A Declaration ……………………………………………….............................................ii Abstract………………………………………………………….......................................iii Acknowledgements……………………………………………….....................................v Table of Contents……………………………………………….......................................vii List of Tables……………………………………………………………………………xiii List of Figures……………………………………………………...................................xv List of Maps……………………………………………………....................................xvii List of Plates……………………………………………………....................................xvii Abbreviations…………………………………………………......................................xviii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background ……………………………………………...............................................1 1.2 Statement of Research Problem……………………………......................................10 1.3 Rationale……………………………………………………….................................11 1.4 Research Questions…………………………………………….................................13 1.5 Objectives of the Study …………………………………………….........................13 1.6 Sources of Data and Methodology……………………………..................................14 1.7 Organisation of the Thesis……………………………………...................................15 CHAPTER TWO: URBAN GROWTH AND PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 2.1 Introduction…………………………………………………….................................17 2.2 Conceptual Framework and Literature Review……………………………………..17 vii 2.2.1 Pro-Urban and Anti-Urban Views……………………................................18 2.2.2 The Intermediate View……………………………….................................21 2.3 Urbanisation and Provision of Water -supply and Sanitation…………......................22 2.3.1 Poverty, Water-supply and Sanitation………………………......................22 2.3.2 Water, Sanitation and Health…………………………………....................24 2.3.3 Urban Growth and Demand for Water -supply and Sanitation….................28 2.3.4 Water and Sanitation and Environment…………………………................30 2.3.5 Water and Sanitation and Politics………………………………….............33 2.4 Urban Growth, Water -supply and Sanitation in the Pacific……………...................37 2.4.1 The Growth of Urban Centers………………………………......................37 2.4.2 Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Challenges…………….......................38 2.5 Institutional Approaches to Water and Sanitation…………………….......................41 2.5.1 Top-Down, Centralized, Supply-Driven Approach…………......................41 2.5.2 Decentralized, Demand –Driven Approach…………..................................43 2.6 Human Right Approach……………………………………………….......................45 2.7 Planning and Development……………………………………………......................46 2.8 Urban Planning and Management in the Pacific……………………..........................51 2.9 Conclusion…………………………………………………………….......................52 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction………………………………………………………..............................53 3.2 Methodological Approaches………………………………………............................53 3.3 Sources of Data……………………………………………………............................54 3.4 Research Design……………………………………………………...........................55

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