Assessment of water system in Port Olry, Espiritu Santo Island Sanma Province, Vanuatu

May 2013

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Document Control Sheet Report title: Assessme nt of water system in Port Olry, Espiritu Santo Island, Sanma Province, Vanuatu Version: FINAL Author(s): O. J. Jonasson Approved by: O. J. Jonasson Signed:

Date: May 2013 Distribution Vanuatu Earth Care Association (VECA)

Photos in this report provided by Rex Tandak, aerial photos from Google Maps

Page 1 of 23 Contents Acknowledgements ...... 3 Executive Summary ...... 4 Short term recommendations: ...... 4 Medium term recommendations: ...... 4 1. Introduction ...... 5 2. Background ...... 5 3. Field Assessment ...... 9 Centralised water system ...... 9 Rainwater tanks ...... 9 Current plans by the Vanuatu Government ...... 10 Desire for a metered system ...... 11 4. Water quality analysis ...... 11 5. Discussion ...... 16 Ownership and responsibility ...... 16 Technical advice ...... 16 Rainwater tanks ...... 18 Use of a metered system ...... 19 Water quality ...... 19 1. Recommendations ...... 21 Short term recommendations: ...... 21 Medium term recommendations ...... 22 Development of rainwater harvesting design resources ...... 22 6. References ...... 23

Page 2 of 23 Acknowledgements This project was made possible through the kind support of the Hon. Alfred Maoh, Member of Parliament for Santo and the Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Member of Parliament for Port Vila. Without their support and financial assistance, it would not have been possible. Thank you.

A thank you also goes to Mangoes Resort, Port Vila and to Hibiscus Motel, Luganville for providing accommodation free of charge during the field work of this project.

ALS Australia sponsored the project by providing extensive analysis of water samples free of charge, which provided valuable insight into the water quality in Port Olry.

Rex Tandak, the coordinator and core founder of Vanuatu Earth Care Association (VECA) initiated the project and provided valuable support during and after the field work and deserves a special mentioning. Thank you Rex.

Fr. Antoine, assistant Port Olry Catholic Parish Priest was also a big help during the field work, and for this I am most grateful.

A large number of people also provided information and gave up their time to contribute to the project by sharing their insights. A big thank you goes out to you. You know who you are.

Page 3 of 23 Executive Summary This project was initiated by Vanuatu Earth Care Association (VECA) and follows on from a previous project by Dr Kirsten Davies titled Tabwemasana Research Project . The intention of this project is to make an independent assessment of the overall water system in Port Olry, including alternative sources of water and to make recommendations for improvements.

A field assessment was carried out in February 2013. This included visiting key sites and conducting interviews with people who are somehow involved in water distribution in Port Olry or Vanuatu more generally. Water samples were also collected from five sites in Port Olry and sent for analysis in Australia.

The only water quality parameter tested that is of concern is Faecal Coliforms (bacteria derived from faecal matter). Of the water tested, water from a rainwater tank was found to be a safe source of drinking water while levels of Faecal Coliforms in open wells were generally found to be high.

Recommendations made in this report target three areas:

• Reduce pollution of existing water resources to protect human health. • Increase access to safe water by better utilising rainwater tanks. • Formalise long term planning of the water supply in Port Olry.

Short term recommendations: • Investigate the lining of the bore to ensure it is intact. • Build mounds around the pump shed and around open wells to ensure no surface runoff can enter the water source. • Fence off an area surrounding the pump shed and surface wells to exclude animals and prevent animal faeces from infiltrating into the water supply. • Cover open wells to prevent foreign material from entering and to exclude sunlight. • Assess if pit toilets or septic systems are located close to open wells (within 30m). • Installation of further guttering to improve the efficiency of existing rainwater tanks as well as installing more tanks.

Medium term recommendations: • Re-instate a Water Committee, under the management of the Catholic Church. • Produce a Water Safety Plan with the assistance of the Vanuatu Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Office.

Significant improvements to the water system can be achieved with relatively small investments, and given the large population of Port Olry, at a low per capita cost. This provides support for further investment in the water system. The long term objective should be for the centralised system to provide water that complies with World Health Organisation Guidelines.

Given the common reliance on rainwater tanks for water supply in Vanuatu, the development of planning and design aides such as lookup charts and water balance models for rainwater harvesting systems would be of benefit for Port Olry as well as for other parts of Vanuatu. This is an area of consideration for the Vanuatu Government.

Page 4 of 23 1. Introduction This project was initiated by Vanuatu Earth Care Association (VECA) and follows on from a previous project by Dr Kirsten Davies titled Tabwemasana Research Project . One of the findings of the Tabwemasana project was the need for secure and safe water supply systems in Port Olry (Davies, 2010). This need has been further highlighted in recent times following a number of outbreaks of water borne disease in Port Olry.

The intention of this project is to make an independent assessment of the overall water system in Port Olry, including alternative sources of water and to make recommendations for improvements.

This report is based almost in its entirety on observations from a site inspection and on anecdotal evidence obtained through interviews. Very little written records are available, and knowledge and information varies, sometimes significantly, between different sources. As such, certain information contained in this report may be disputed by some parties however what has been written in this report has been done so in good faith.

While written records have been kept for all interviews held, all names have been suppressed in the report.

At the time of writing, 100Vatu was equivalent to approximately AUD$1.00.

2. Background

History of the water system in Port Olry The piped water system in Port Olry dates back to before independence in 1980. The bore that is still being used for water supply was drilled by government Contractors in the late 1970’s and is approximately 14 metres deep. At the time, the pressure of the water coming up from the bore was enough for the water to reach surrounding trees. A diesel pump was installed and pipes transferred the water to a large galvanised panel water tank behind the church. Some taps were also installed along the way to supply water to what is now Sector 2 and 3. These taps would only receive water when the pump was running, pressurising the line. From the tank behind the church, water was distributed by gravity to what was at that time the remaining part of the entire village (located in front of the church, currently Sectors 4 and 5). There are reports of some unplanned connections made to the pipeline, and there were cross connections made to Sectors 2 and 3 from Sectors 4 and 5 to overcome the problem of only having water when the pump was running. A map showing key locations and the current sectors are included in Figure 1.

Page 5 of 23 B

SECTOR 1

SECTOR 3 SECTOR 4 & 5

SECTOR 2 A C

Figure 1. Port Olry, Espirity Santo, Sanma Province, Vanuatu (Not to scale). Location of Sectors are indicative only

Figure 1 Legend

A. Bore location (pump site), refer Plates 1 B. Church and old panel tank, refer Plate 2 C. Location of old 30kL steel tank and new 120kL concrete tank, refer Plate 3.

Plate 1. Pump Site, pump supplying the centralised system is located inside the shed.

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Plate 2. Old steel panel tank located behind the church.

Plate 3. Concrete header tank (120kL) with old decommissioned 30kL steel tank shown in background.

Around 1990 the expanding village called for an expansion to the water system, and a steel header tank of approximately 30kL was constructed further up the hill from the bore location. A new line was constructed from the bore location to the tank with a valve that could be changed so that water was either pumped to the new header tank or to the old tank behind the church. From the header tank, a new gravity line was constructed to what is now Sector 1. Sectors 2, 3, 4 and 5 was supplied as per the old system.

In 2011 the steel header tank needed replacing and a new concrete tank of approximately 120kL was constructed just downhill from the old galvanised header tank. The valve that previously allowed

Page 7 of 23 water to be pumped either up to the header tank or to the tank behind the church was fixed so that water was pumped only to the new concrete tank. A gravity line was constructed from the new tank and connected to the line going through Sectors 2 and 3 and to the old steel tank behind the church. The line to Sector 1 was reconnected to the new concrete tank. All water was then distributed by gravity throughout the village, as per the old system. The new concrete header tank and the old steel header tank can be seen in Plate 3.

The agreement in place from the 1970’s to around 1990 was that each household would pay a set amount (approximately 200-300 Vatu) to run the water system, and this was managed by a Water Committee. This fee was collected per sector, and when more money was needed to purchase diesel to run the pump, the households in the next sector paid their fees and when this money ran out, the next sector paid and so on. This system appeared to have worked from around inception to around 1990. At this time the priest changed and after this the management of the system appeared to have deteriorated. People would not pay, or argue that they should not pay as much as others as they used less water. People would also make their own connections to their houses, however this appears to be quite rare.

It has been reported that up to around 1990 there were few, if any, rainwater tanks in Port Olry. The water from the bore was clean enough to drink and the well would never run dry even if the pump would run for 24 hours per day.

Around 2007-08 the pump shaft broke. At this time an electricity system was being constructed in Port Olry and an electric bore pump was purchased by a local Member of Parliament, the Hon. Serge Vohor, and installed in the well. Electricity from the local electricity grid is available in the pump shed. While the new pump was effective in pumping water up from the well, it was not powerful enough to pump water up to the header tank, and the electric pump was decommissioned and left in the priest’s workshop where it is still stored (February 2013). After this, a new pump shaft was purchased, funded by an aid organisation, and the old system was reinstated. A new diesel motor to run the pump was also purchased around this time, or some time afterwards.

The new pump shaft worked until July 2012 when it broke again. At the time of the field assessment (February 2013) it was being repaired in Luganville and was awaiting spare parts in order to allow it to be reinstalled. This work was supported by another local Member of Parliament, the Hon. Marcelino Pipiti. The pump has since been reinstalled (April 2013).

Current Situation As the centralised water distribution system has become less reliable and ultimately ceased to function, the villages have dug a number of new shallow wells throughout the village where water is extracted using ropes and buckets. The wells have been dug at low points in the landscape as this requires the least effort in order to intercept the groundwater. Water from these wells is generally not used for drinking but for other purposes such as laundry and washing, as well as some personal hygiene. Water for drinking is generally sourced from rainwater tanks, harvesting water from roofs only. During prolonged times with no rain however, the tank water will run out and people are left with no option but to drink water from the wells.

Page 8 of 23 Collecting water from the wells and carrying back to the individual houses is very labour intensive and is generally done by women and children.

3. Field Assessment A field assessment was carried out in February 2013. This included visiting key sites and conducting interviews with people who are somehow involved in water distribution in Port Olry or Vanuatu more generally. Water samples were also collected from five sites in Port Olry and sent for analysis in Australia.

Centralised water system No organisation appears to have the overall formal responsibility for managing the centralised water system in Port Olry, including its operation and maintenance. There is anecdotal evidence that the system has not been operating for long periods of time simply because no one would pay money to purchase diesel.

The pipe system is old and unplanned connections make the system very difficult to manage. The exact locations of pipes are in many cases not known.

When the pump shaft broke in 2012, there was sand and limestone present in the pump. This may indicate that the well lining has cracked and that foreign material has entered the bore which in turn may have been the reason for the pump shaft breaking.

The concrete tank has mesh over its openings but this is in some places not completely sealed and mosquitoes and vermin may enter the tank.

Rainwater tanks There are rainwater tanks installed throughout the village, both on some single residential buildings and on communal buildings and chapels. This water is used for drinking and cooking. Given the large population in Port Olry, the number of tanks is not sufficient to provide a reliable water supply for the residents. For tanks on communal buildings and tanks for communal use, most tanks have been funded by aid organisations. Tanks are for the most part not accurately sized for their catchments and are generally not connected to all the roof area available. Many tanks are only connected to a very small part of the available roof area, and some are not connected to any roof area at all. An example of a rainwater tank where the yield could be increased by extending guttering is shown in Plate 4.

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Plate 4. Rainwater tank with opportunities for increased yield (tank only connected to 20% of the available roof area)

Current plans by the Vanuatu Government The Vanuatu Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Office which is regulated by the the Ministry of Mines and Meteorology currently have a costed plan for a full reconstruction and expansion of the water distribution system in Port Olry. This includes new pipes and new taps, one tap for every 4 houses on average (20 people). Upon completion, if people want to make their own connections from these central points to the individual houses that would be at the expense of the individual households.

The cost of the proposed plan is estimated to be in the order of 2,800,000Vatu. This does however not include any changes to the current pumped system, and is for new pipes and fittings from the concrete tank only.

The Vanuatu Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Office can provide training for communities and water committees and can also assist communities in implementing local Water Safety Plans for local water supplies. This is most often a process driven by the individual communities themselves. This process has been used for other parts of Vanuatu such as Port Vila, Luganville and Mele (Nath et al, 2006). Resources available to conduct water safety planning includes documents from the World Health Organisation (WHO) such as the Water Safely Planning for Small community Water Supplies (WHO, 2012) . The Vanuatu Government also has a number of resources available, outlined in “Rural Water Supply & Sanitation, Design and Construction Standards for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation in Vanuatu” (Department of Water Resources, 2010).

Page 10 of 23 Desire for a metered system A number of locals expressed a desire for a metered water distribution system, where the individual paid for the volume of water used rather than a set fee. This was proposed to overcome the current issue where people do not want to pay as they feel they are unfairly paying for people who consume more water. An example of an individually metered system was given in the electricity system in Port Olry. This system runs from 6:00AM to 9:00AM and from 5:00PM to 10:00PM as there is little demand during the day. At the time of writing approximately 300-400 households were connected to the electricity system. The connections to the power grid were funded by the individual households and cost approximately 27,000Vatu. Each household has a meter with a pre-paid card that can be recharged as needed. One kWh costs 200Vatu and will last an average household about three days.

4. Water quality analysis Water samples were collected from five points within the village.

1. Pump Site (PS1). Water was collected from within the pump shed from the pump well that supplies the centralised water system. Refer Plate 5. 2. Open well in Sector 2 (WS2:1). This well is located at the bottom of a local depression. Refer Plates 6 and 7 3. Rainwater tank connected to a Parish building (RWT1). The tank is connected to a galvanised steel roof. Refer Plate 8. 4. Open well in Sector 5 (WS5:1). This well is an older stone lined well located in front of the school. The opening is raised from the surrounding area. Refer Plate 9. 5. Natural spring feeding a tidal influenced bay approximately 2.8km from the village (SP1). This water is used for drinking by the locals when in the area and the bay is used for washing and bathing.

The locations are shown in Figure 2.

Page 11 of 23 5

3 4

2 1

Figure 2. Water quality sample locations, Port Olry 15/02/2013 (Not to scale)

Plate 5. Bore (PS1) and pump within pump shed, diesel motor in background.

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Plate 6. Shallow open well in Sector 2 (WS2:1), constructed in a depression.

Plate 7. Water quality of water in shallow open well in Sector 2 (WS2:1), showing green, cloudy appearance.

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Plate 8. Rainwater tank connected to a Parish building (RWT:1).

Plate 9. Well in Sector 5, stone lines (WS5:1).

The results of the water quality analysis are presented in Table 1.

Page 14 of 23 Table 1. Water quality data, Port Olry 15/02/2013 (Note: For some parameters (e.g. Faecal Coliforms and some Nitrogen species) the samples were tested outside their recommended holding time due to the time it took to transfer the samples from Port Olry to Sydney, Australia)

Project name/number: VANUATU PORT OLRY 12013 Sample date: 15/02/2013 15/02/2013 15/02/2013 15/02/2013 15/02/2013 Client sample ID: PS1 WS2:1 RWT:1 WS5:1 SP1 Detection limit pH Value pH Unit 0.01 7.94 8.04 5.54 7.96 7.79

Total Metals Arsenic mg/L 0.001 <0.001 0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 Cadmium mg/L 0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 Chromium mg/L 0.001 <0.001 <0.001 0.003 <0.001 0.004 Copper mg/L 0.001 0.009 <0.001 0.019 <0.001 <0.001 Nickel mg/L 0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 Lead mg/L 0.001 <0.001 <0.001 0.001 0.006 <0.001 Zinc mg/L 0.005 0.041 <0.005 0.427 <0.005 <0.005 Total Recoverable Mercury mg/L 0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001 <0.0001

Ammonia as N mg/L 0.01 <0.01 <0.01 0.02 <0.01 <0.01 Nitrite as N mg/L 0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 <0.01 Nitrate as N mg/L 0.01 4.92 0.22 0.13 0.26 0.84 Nitrite plus Nitrate as N (NOx) mg/L 0.01 4.92 0.22 0.13 0.26 0.84 Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen as N mg/L 0.1 0.8 0.4 <0.1 <0.1 0.2 Total Phosphorus as P mg/L 0.01 0.39 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.01 Monocyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons None detected Oxygenated Compounds None detected Sulfonated Compounds None detected Fumigants None detected Halogenated Aliphatic Compounds None detected Halogenated Aromatic Compounds None detected Trihalomethanes None detected Naphthalene None detected CFU/ Faecal Coliforms 100mL 1 ~70 690* <1 380 ~4 *) Sample of Faecal Coliforms from WS2:1 froze during transit and the reported CFU count is likely to be conservative.

Page 15 of 23 5. Discussion

Ownership and responsibility There is evidence suggesting that the ad-hoc construction of water systems have not provided the benefits they were intended to provide. This is partly due to a lack of centralised and “whole of system” planning. The reinstatement of a Water Committee that is responsible for the water system in Port Olry is vital for the long term function of any system implemented. The Catholic Church is most likely the best organisation to manage the process of setting up a new committee as it is a common denominator for all different sectors of Port Olry. The Water Committee would have to decide what is the most suitable and manageable pricing system. This may initially be based on a set fee per household or on number of individuals per household, or may in the longer term be a metered system. The Water Committee would be responsible for the management and the collection of rates from the operation and maintenance of the water system. They would also be responsible for ensuring that rules are adhered to, and should have the authority to enforce these rules if the need arises. The Vanuatu Government have resources available that can assist in this process, outlined in “Rural Water Supply & Sanitaion, Design and Construction Standards for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation in Vanuatu” (Department of Water Resources, 2010). This includes amongst other things courses in Community Development and training for Water Committees.

A formalised planning process for the future of the water system in Port Olry is recommended, such as the one described in Water Safety Planning (WHO 2012). This is likely to provide a better outcome in the longer term because it promotes good planning and may provide the best value for money with the limited financial resources available. Guidance and assistance on this process can also be sought from The Vanuatu Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Office.

Technical advice There also appears to be a lack of technical input into both the planning and construction of the water system in Port Olry. It is not clear how the distribution of water between the higher tank (previously the 30kL steel tank and currently the 120kL concrete tank) and the lower tank (large steel tank behind the church) is being managed, however no easily manoeuvred valves were observed on site. If the line is simply hydraulically connecting the both tanks without any valves, the water will slowly drain from the higher tank (30kL) into the larger tank as the connection is at the bottom of the higher tank. If the higher tank is not topped up (i.e. water pumped into it) if will empty itself. If there are valves between the tanks, these would have to be timely managed in order for the system to function as intended. One way around this would be to have the connection from the higher tank close to the top of the tank, or to have an internal riser. This would prevent any water from going from the higher tank to the lower tank behind the church unless the higher tank is full. It is not clear if such an arrangement is in place at this time.

The reason for the drastically increased size of the new concrete header tank is also not clear, as no other alterations were proposed to the system at that time. The only benefit in that case is to potentially allow less frequent pumping. As the rate of pumping to the tank and the usage (volume of water going out of the tank) remained the same, little other benefits would be expected. One potential reason for the increased size may have been a perceived lack of storage volume as a result

Page 16 of 23 of poor hydraulic connections, causing water to leak out of the tank. However, as the location of the new tank is some 2-3 metres below the old tank it is likely to have decreased the overall performance, as this is a reduction in available head in the order of 20%.A smaller tank at the location of the old 30kL steel tank may have provided the same or greater overall benefit to the system than the concrete tank (as the head would be higher). This could have been done for less cost and with less effort and could have freed up funding for improvements to the distribution networks.

It is also possible that the increased storage size was in anticipation of a future decommissioning of the large steel tank behind the church. This steel tank is still in use but has large holes through the roof and does not provide safe storage of water. The concept plan prepared by the Vanuatu Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Office includes a decommissioning of the tank behind the church, and the increased size of the concrete tank allows for some compensation of the lost storage. By distributing all the water from the higher tank, the system will also have higher pressure as the head is increased.

Sizing of storage tanks is a function of the water demand, pump rate and desired pump frequency. It is not clear to what extent there factors were considered when the system was designed.

There also appears to have been a lack of technical input when the electric bore pump was trailed. The pump was not sized for the application for which it was intended, however from the site visit it would appear there are no reasons why an electric bore pump could not be installed at this location given the relatively low head (20-25m) and access to power (1 and 3 phase).

The diesel motor operating the existing pump is manually turned on and off, and there are some suggestions that the pump and motor have sustained damage as a result of over usage. An electric pump would be far easier to manage, and the operation could be made automatic using simple float switches in the header tank. By using float switches set at appropriate levels the frequency of pump operation can be reduced as much as possible, something that would reduce the life cycle costs of the whole system. The pump would operate “as needed” making the system less labour intensive to operate. This would also alleviate the issue of purchasing fuel and transporting it to site, as well as eliminate the risk of contamination from diesel as the current motor and fuel tank is located just next to the bore. The cost of electricity is likely to be similar to that of a diesel operated motor, however this needs to be investigated in more detail before any decisions are made.

Engineering advice and input is important to ensure that the most suitable solution is being implemented. This is a solution which delivers the best quality water possible at the least cost and does so reliably. The Vanuatu Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Office has been responsible for the proposed design of a new water distribution system in Port Olry, but further technical advice is necessary in relation to the pump and the pumping regime and how this is operated. The need for a new bore lining should be investigated to ensure that any pump that is installed will function in the long term.

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Rainwater tanks It is interesting to note that it has been reported that up until around 1990, there were few if any rainwater tanks in Port Olry and the residents relied on the groundwater fed centralised system for their drinking water supply. While rainwater tanks are a good source of water, and provide a backup for when the centralised system fails, the installation of rainwater tanks throughout the village has divided available funds, supporting both a rainwater fed system and a groundwater fed system. Neither of the systems provides a safe and reliable water supply to the village in its current state. It is noted however that rainwater tanks will provide a source of water irrespective of people’s willingness to pay, and given the situation in Port Olry this has been important in recent years.

While the size of a rainwater tank is of importance, the catchment area (roof area) connected to the tank is in most cases more important, and a smaller tank with a larger roof area connected will provide a higher yield of water than a larger tank connected to a small roof area. This relationship is not fully understood by most people involved in the installation of rainwater tanks. A number of tanks that have been donated by aid organisations have also relied on the locals to install the tanks properly and provide the necessary guttering and connections. This has in many cases not happened and the investment in the rainwater tank is not fully realised. While recognising that the cost of proper guttering may be an important factor, there is a need for education for both locals and for donors in the basic design of rainwater harvesting systems. This should reinforce the fact that the tank is only one part of a rainwater harvesting system.

There are a number of rainwater tanks in Port Olry, and a number of quite large roof areas. While the Vanuatu Government provide good guidelines on overall planning for rural water supply systems (Department of Water Resources, 2010) there appears to be a need for simple guidelines that can be consulted to guide the planning and design of smaller rainwater harvesting system. The design guideline from the Department of Water Resources also have limited information on the sizing of tanks and the relationship between the catchment area, tank size and water usage. As such, the development of design guidelines, including lookup charts or where computers are available, simple water balance models using Microsoft Excel, would complement the guidelines already in place which focuses on construction and management. Computer models using Excel are commonly used in for example Australia for similar applications, and ensure that the design is optimised for the local conditions.

By having access to better design guidance, a detailed plan could be developed assessing the relationship between available roof areas, tank sizes and water demand for different parts of Port Olry. By doing this in a systematic way, financial resources could be allocated to where they will have the greatest impact. It is possible that relatively cheap changes such as additional gutters or moving tanks to other areas could have a significant impact on the overall supply of drinking water in Port Olry. Due to the large population it is however unlikely that rainwater tanks alone can provide all the water needed for the community.

Page 18 of 23 Use of a metered system The long term objective might be to have a fully sub-metered water distribution system similar to that in Port Vila or Luganville. It is however a system where everyone has to have a meter with few or no communal taps or the system does not work. This is different to the electricity system in Port Olry. To have access to power individuals who wanted electricity paid for the connection and the meter, and people who did not simply did not have access to electricity. If someone that is connected to the power grid doesn’t have money to recharge the electricity card, this will also not have a significant impact on the health of the person in the short term. Water on the other hand is essential for public health and would have to be made available to everyone, be it through individual connections or through the use of communal taps. This is notwithstanding the need for enough revenue to operate the water system.

The electricity network is also harder to manipulate as most people are aware of the dangers associated with tampering with electrical cables. A plastic water distribution system can potentially be altered without any significant health risks if one is trying to avoid charges imposed through the use of water meters, and this would have to be closely managed.

While a metered system would alleviate the issue of perceived unfairness in the water charges, such system would require the setup of a more complicated governing body than a system that is based on a rate per household or per person. The non-metered approach would also require record keeping and ensuring fees are paid, it would however be much less complex than a metered system that would require reading of individual meters and preparation of bills or other forms of evidence and records before fees can be collected. The cost of managing a metered system is likely to be high given the small number of households, and is unlikely to be financially viable. Comparing it again to the electricity system, the cost of electricity is a lot higher than the anticipated cost of water, being approximately 67Vatu/day (assuming 1kWh lasts three days) as opposed to a monthly or so charge of 200Vatu (7Vatu/day) for water. This contributes to the financial viability of the electricity system, along with the pre-paid meters (removing the need for reading of individual meters).

The cost of installing some 400-800 water meters would also be significant. This cost would have to be paid by the individual household, similar to the system in place for electricity. It is unlikely that an aid donor would contribute to the meters themselves. The cost of installing a water meter, along with higher charges as a result of a more complex management system is likely to outweigh any potential savings to the individual as a result of any decrease in water charge made from having a metered charge rather than a set monthly fee.

While it will be up to the water committee to determine the best fee structure for Port Olry together with the residents, a metered system is not considered a priority at this point in time.

Water quality As shown in Table 1, groundwater is slightly alkaline while rainwater is slightly acidic. This is in line with other information on groundwater sources in Vanuatu (Nath et al, 2006), and well as other reported measurement of rainwater tank quality (Davies et al, 2010).

Page 19 of 23 Metal levels are low in all samples with elevated levels of Copper (Cu) and Zink (Zn) in the rainwater tank water the only noticeable result. This is likely due to leaching from the roof material itself. Levels are however within drinking water guidelines (WHO, 2011, Department of Water Resources, 2010) and do not pose a health risk.

No hydrocarbons or other toxicants were detected in any of the samples.

Levels of nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) are generally low with the exception of Nitrate at the pump site (PS 1, sample 1). The reason for the elevated levels at this site is not known, but may be a result of polluted surface water entering the well. The levels are however within drinking water guidelines (WHO, 2011).

The only parameter tested for that is of concern is Faecal Coliforms (bacteria derived from faecal matter). Levels in the open well in Sector 2 (WS2:1, sample 2) had high levels of faecal contamination, likely to be even higher than that reported as the sample was accidently frozen during transit which would have reduced the number of coliforms. The contamination is likely the result of surface runoff entering the well during rainfall events. During the site visit, animals were grazing close by and animal faeces were observed very close to the open well. To protect the well from surface runoff, animals should be excluded from the vicinity of the well, and the opening protected by the construction of raised mounds and/or diversion channels. The opening of the well should also be covered. This will prevent foreign material from entering the well and will also exclude sunlight which will reduce the risk of algal and bacterial growth in the water. The water in the well was noted as having a slightly green and cloudy appearance, something that was also noted in a number of other wells in the village.

Further, open pit toilets or septic tanks should not be allowed within minimum 30m of the well.

The well in Sector 5 (WS5:1, sample 4) also had high levels of Faecal Coliforms. The source in this case is less obvious as the well is located in a fenced off area not accessible to animals and has a raised opening that would prevent any surface runoff from entering the well. It is not known if any toilets are located close to the well, but this may be a potential source of pollution. As for the other well, a cover should be fitted to the well to protect the water from contamination.

Surprisingly, the pump well (PS 1, sample 1) also had a relatively high concentration of Faecal Coliforms, however far less than the open wells. Although there were no obvious signs of surface runoff entering the pump shed and the bore, this may be a potential source of pollution, especially close to the door of the shed. As for the open well in Sector 2, animals was grazing close by and animal faeces were observed very close to the pump shed. Infiltration of faecal matter close to the well may impact on the water quality. To protect the bore from potential contamination, animals should be excluded from the vicinity of the pump shed, and the area protected by the construction of raised mounds and/or diversion channels. It should be noted however that at the time of sampling, no water was being extracted from the bore, and the water sampled is likely to have been sitting within the bore for some time. This may have impacted the water quality, and further testing is recommended once the system is in operation.

Faecal Colifoms albeit at low concentrations were also detected in the spring water (SP1, sample 5) again most likely due to animal faeces being washed into the water supply. Animal faeces and

Page 20 of 23 grazing animals were present just meters from where the spring water surfaced. At this site this is probably of less practical significance as the concentration is low and this water would only be used for drinking when people are in the area for washing or bathing.

No Faecal Coliforms were detected in the rainwater tank (RWT:1, sample 3). This confirms that rainwater tanks are a safe source of drinking water.

Checklists to help manage water quality for wells, bores, springs and rainwater tanks can be provided by the Vanuatu Government (Department of Water Resources, 2010). This includes guidance on maintenance and construction.

1. Recommendations Recommendations made in this report target three main areas:

• Reduce pollution of existing water resources to protect human health. • Increase access to safe water by better utilising rainwater tanks. • Formalise long term planning of the water supply in Port Olry.

The recommendations are divided into short and medium term. Many of the recommendations are included in the checklists provided by the Vanuatu Government (Department of Water Resources, 2010)

Short term recommendations: • Investigate the lining of the bore to ensure it is intact. The sand and limestone present in the pump may indicate that the well lining have cracked and foreign material enters the bore. This may impact on the long term function of the pump. • Build mounds around the pump shed where the bore is located to ensure no surface runoff can enter the shed or the bore. • Fence off an area surrounding the pump shed to exclude animals and prevent animal faeces from infiltrating into the water supply. • Exclude animals from areas surrounding open wells throughout the village using fencing. • Protect open wells by preventing surface runoff from entering the wells through the construction on mounds around the opening and/or diversion channels around the opening. • Cover open wells to prevent foreign material from entering and to exclude sunlight in order to reduce the risk of algal and bacterial growth in the water. • Assess if pit toilets or septic systems are located close to open wells (within 30m), and if so consider closing the well for human consumption. • Installation of further guttering to connect more roof area to the rainwater tanks already installed within the village in order to maximise the benefits of these tanks and provide more safe water to the residents. Installing more tanks may also be considered to increase supply. This work should ideally be done in a systematic manner which will ensure that resources are used where they will have the greatest benefit. This is of particular importance for the tanks installed on the communal chapels within each sector.

Page 21 of 23 Medium term recommendations • Re-instate a Water Committee, under the management of the Catholic Church. • Produce a Water Safety Plan following the process outlined in the WHO publication Water Safety Planning for Small Community Water Supplies (WHO, 2012), seek assistance from The Vanuatu Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Office if required.

If reinstated and provided they take advantage of the training and other resources available the water committee should determine the best way forward. In addition to improving the rainwater harvesting systems this should include an upgrade to the water distribution system as per concept design by the Vanuatu Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Office, as the current piped system does not function and is not adequate to provide water to the entire village. This may also include further investigation into replacing the diesel engine with an appropriately sized and designed electric bore pump to make the management of the system easier. Investigation should include a comparison of the cost of diesel and electricity, noting that an electrical pump is likely to be able to operate more efficiently. It may be worth investigating if the electric bore pump currently stored in the priest’s workshop can be altered to provide the required pressure. As a medium term measure, the diesel pump could be electronically operated using float switches in the tank to make the system more automatic and extend the useful life of the pump system. This would require an electric starter motor and a battery.

Significant improvements to the water system can be achieved with relatively small investments, and given the large population of Port Olry, at a low per capita cost. This provides support for further investment in the water system. The long term objective should be for the centralised system to provide water that complies with World Health Organisation Guidelines. This will require further testing to ensure that the water quality has improved following the implementation of the short term recommendations.

Development of rainwater harvesting design resources Given the common reliance on rainwater tanks for water supply, the development of additional resources for the planning and design of rainwater harvesting systems would be of benefits for Port Olry as well as to other parts of Vanuatu.

Educational material in the form of lookup charts for individual rainwater tanks could be made available to aid organisations and in places where rainwater tanks are sold. More technical resources such as Excel based water balance models (commonly used for this purpose in for example Australia), could be provided to technical staff within the Vanuatu Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Office or to other people with a technical background. This would complement existing design guidelines which are mainly focused on the construction and management aspects of rainwater harvesting systems. The adaptation of such design resources would ensure that resources are allocated to where they will have the greatest impact and that the design is optimised for the local conditions.

This is an area of consideration for the Vanuatu Government.

Page 22 of 23 6. References Davies, K. (2010) Tabwemasana Research Project Report, Dr Kirsten Davies, Sydney Australia

Davies, P.J. Wright, I.A. Jonasson, O.J. Findlay, S.J. (2010) Impact of concrete and PVC pipes on urban water chemistry . Urban Water Journal Vol. 7 No. 4 August 2010 233-241

Department of Water Resources, Vanuatu Government (2010) Rural Water Supply & Sanitation, Design and Construction Standards for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation in Vanuatu. Vanuatu Government, Vanuatu

Nath, D., Mudaliar, M., Ioan, C. (2006) Water Safety Plan Water Supply Description Assessment Vanuatu , SOPAC, Vanuatu

World Health Organisation (2012) Water Safety Planning for Small Community Water Supplies , World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland.

World Health Organisation (2011) Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality FOURTH EDITION , World Health Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland.

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