MWH GLOBAL

FIJI WATER SECURITY PROJECT

Initial Project Report April 2013

Table of Contents

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 3
The Situation and Assessment ............................................................................................................. 4
Problems being addressed ................................................................................................................... 4
Basic Objectives ............................................................................................................................... 5
Initial Implementation Plan.............................................................................................................. 5
Proposed MWH Water Security Program Funded activities/materials: ............................................. 6
Proposed Donation Implementation Schedule ..................................................................................... 7
Stakeholders........................................................................................................................................ 7
Project Delivery ............................................................................................................................... 7
Local Institutions ............................................................................................................................. 7

Introduction
MWH Globals Fiji Water Security Project has been facilitated by MWHs donation of 10,000 New
Zealand Dollars to be used for the improvement of water security in areas of Fiji suffering from a lack of
consistent and reliable water sources. Global Vision International will work with MWH in 2013 to
implement and design the project specifics around the MWH Fiji Water Security Project goals and
objectives.

The Situation and Assessment

In the Northern Yasawa Island chain access to safe drinking water is limited. These volcanic islands have
limited natural water catchment due to the porous nature of the bedrock. Many villages rely upon a
number of different water sources by utilizing seasonal wells, boreholes, and rainwater collection.
Water shortages in the northern Yasawas are exasperated and become critical during, what can be, a six
month dry season, May-October. During periods of drought, the Fiji government has in the past, been
required to send drinking water to the islands via barge after wells and water tanks have run dry.
The collection of rainwater as a source of drinking water is practiced by villages throughout the Yasawa
Island chain and throughout the Republic of Fiji. It is a safe and reliable way to source drinking water.
However, without sufficient collection capacity, appropriate materials, long term water management
plans, system upkeep, filtration, and a system of water reserves, villages become particularly vulnerable
to severe water shortages, especially during the dry season.
Since early 2011, GVI has been responsible for the implementation water security improvement
programs in drought affected areas of Fiji. In February 2011, GVI carried out a number of village water
security assessments in the Northern Yasawas to look at ways that a program could be designed to
support the initiatives and goals of the Ba Provincial Council. In June 2011, GVI established and opened
Tovuto Base on Nanuya Lai Lai Island and launched operations on 18th June 2011. To date GVI has
implemented a number of different donor funded water security projects in the Yasawas and has
systematically worked to improve existing infrastructure, guarantee better water quality, spread water
awareness, and increase overall water capacity. With a strong baseline of information and data on the
current situation in the Yasawas with regards to water security, MWH and GVI will use this data to
implement the necessary infrastructure improvements and additions to further alleviate water security
problems in the most vulnerable areas of the region.

Problems being addressed

MWH and GVI aim to alleviate water security issues in the Yasawas by providing long term solutions to
village water problems. The main challenges to water security in the Yasawas can be summarized as the
following:
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Lack of reliable water sources due to poor natural water catchment and porous volcanic
bedrock
Extended dry season is experienced in the Yasawa region which has historically lasted up to
6 months
Poor upkeep of existing water infrastructure and lack of income to fund new infrastructure
Theres remote islands have few transport options capable of carrying drinking water during
emergencies and historically the government has been required to mobilize government
barges from Suva to help ferry water to the northern region of the Yasawas
Poor management and awareness of water conservation

Basic Objectives

The basic objectives of this donation will be to achieve a minimum of the following:
Through infrastructure repairs and new installations provide an increased water capacity of at
least 40,000 Litres of drinking water.
Improve access to drinking water for at least two communities
Assist two Schools to Achieve Blue School status recognition by the International Rainwater
Harvesting Alliance.
Ensure impact of the program and improved access to fresh water, sanitation, health and
Education impacts at least 400 School children.

Initial Implementation Plan

Over a four week period between the end of April beginning of May 2013, GVI will be using field teams
to carry out follow up assessments of total current water capacity available and water availability /
sanitation in a number of Northern Yasawan Villages. This information will be compared against the
2012 water security audits in order to decide the most appropriate recipient communities for the MWH
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program. GVI personnel will directly inspect water infrastructure and perform surveys to gauge village
water security, shortcomings, potential solutions, and ongoing issues. Local villagers and village heads
will help define assessment criteria and local specific factors for consideration.
Proposed MWH Water Security Program Funded activities/materials:
Rainwater Harvesting Systems

Existing Water Infrastructure Improvements: Pipeline replacements, guttering replacements,

catchment improvements, tank base improvements
New Rainwater Harvesting System Installations
Sanitation infrastructure installations and improvements
Freight costs for material transport

IRHA Blue School Program

The following activities are designed in keeping with requirements for meeting the
criteria of an IRHA Blue School. Blue schools are institutions that have been
recognized by United Nations conceived, International Rainwater Harvesting
Alliance, as being schools in which a high level of water awareness, sanitation, and
water solutions have been sustained in keeping with basic human rights and the
requirements of an educational environment.

IRHA Blue Schools Curriculum Package Delivery

1. Water Awareness
2. Health and Hygiene
3. Environmental Protection
4. Peace and Tolerance

Infrastructure improvements to Sanitation facilities of schools

1. Composting Toilets (materials for construction)
2. Hand-washing facilities (materials for construction/improvements)
3. Access to drinking water (materials for improvements

Specific plans and first steps as well as target communities and locations will be defined and informed by
GVIs Annual Water Security Assessment completed in 2012. The resulting information will then be used
to earmark the available funds accordingly and set schedules for delivery.

Proposed Donation Implementation Schedule

April May: Audit and Assessment, design fund usage and sites.
June September: Phase 1 Water Infrastructure improvements capacity expansion 2-4
communities
October -December : Phase 2 Blue Schools programming and school facility improvements in
2-4 schools
January March 2014: Phase 3 Final reporting and results

Stakeholders
The Following Stakeholders will be involved with and
made aware of the progress and the results of the MWH
program.

Project Delivery

MWH Global: Principle Funding Donor

The GVI Charitable Trust: Donation Accounting and Reporting
Global Vision International Fiji: Project Design and Implementation
The International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance: Blue School Program methodology and
criteria recognition

Local Institutions

The Ba Provincial Council: Recipient of Regional Reports on Community Activities

Nacula Tikina Committees and Tui Drola (Yasawa High Chief). Village Leadership for the
region will be notified as to the program, the donor and the goals and will help where needed to
facilitate appropriate permissions
The Fiji Ministry of Youth and Sports: Recipient of youth activity reports
The Fiji Ministry of Education: Recipient of school activity reports
Fiji Water Authority: Informed in connection to government infrastructure elements affected and
improved by any water security operations

Global Vision International Charitable Trust

Sophie.birkett@gviworld.com