Existing Solutions

Water quality monitoring, Pacific Island Countries, capacity building

technical

Institutional

The objective of the programme is to build sustainable national capacity for monitoring the quality of water (drinking, surface, ground and coastal). Specifically, the key components of the programme worked towards building local capacity on water quality monitoring through laboratory training, provision of equipment and improved data management; creation of a functioning water quality network; increased public awareness on water and health issues; and enabling government agencies to make informed decisions based on water quality data through pilots in the selected countries (Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Niue and Vanuatu).

Cook Islands, Republic of Marshall Islands, Niue and Vanuatu

The programme is driven by the Pacific Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Water Management which identified reducing unaccounted for water as the highest priority action for PIC water utilities.

The project was initiated by countries and supported through the Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC) of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Institute of Applied Sciences at the University of the South Pacific (IAS-USP).

Local government laboratory staff trained from the Marshall Islands Environment Protection Authority, Niue Water Laboratory, the Vanuatu Department of Geology Mines and Water Resources laboratory and the Cook Islands Waterworks laboratory. They were supported by SOPAC, WHO and IAS-USP in training and equipment upgrades and were involved form the start of project implementation.

National counterparts as mentioned above worked on the project at a country level by incorporating elements of the WQM programme into their workplans whilst SOPAC, WHO and IAS-USP provided continued advice and guidance.

The key question this solution addresses is how can national governments secure safe water sources in the face of rising populations, the effects of pollution and climate variability and change that threaten to contaminate these sources. Providing a solution to this question contributes to the regional targets aim addressing national and regional actions to support water security.

By building the capacity of national water laboratories staff to effectively monitor water quality and share the results nationally, these countries can better assess the quality of their water sources and supplies to determine areas for action needed to secure safe water.

The key outputs include capacity building of laboratory monitoring and testing, country-specific water quality monitoring programmes or guidelines developed, improved data management, water quality e-mail network for country counterparts to share information or seek advice, increased public awareness on water and health issues, increased level of government support for water quality monitoring, countries being linked through to the Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) network for global water quality data and information sharing.

With the success noted so far in each of the piloted countries it is believed that this approach will have long-term sustainability and positive impacts however the some of the lessons learnt will need to be addressed.

Indicators for success include US EPA certification for laboratories, improvement in proficiency on performance of laboratories, replication of training to other organisations and government departments and replication of training for new technicians following water quality monitoring efforts.

All Pacific island country water managers would be interested in the solution as they are facing challenges with provision of safe and adequate supply of water. Improved capacity for water quality monitoring improves the country’s ability to assess their quality the water source and supply to develop appropriate adaption responses.

The solution would work best in a context where gaps in knowledge, equipment and resources have been identified in existing water laboratories. The solution offers training and resources that can easily fill basic gaps in the capability of under-supported laboratories.

Upscaling this solution would require a strong and committed national counterpart, a national strategy that clearly lays out this approach, and proper monitoring. The presentation of a successful case study such as the ones piloted in these countries would also help develop the political will necessary to expand the project. A cost-benefit analysis could also be done to support the approach

The in-country training content should be based on the adsorptive capacity of the trainees. It was found that the training was more successful when the missions were specifically targeted for training on microbiology, chemistry or community-based monitoring.

The balance between country missions and staff workload should be maintained and respected. Often due to human resource constraints and various aid related projects the country counterparts can have various portfolios.

Senior level management should always be consulted during country missions to maintain their buy-in for the process and for sustainability afterwards.

Longer term support is needed to institutionalise WQM in PICs.

The recognition and status that the laboratories and staff obtain through Certification could be used to ensure QA/QC procedures are always followed for credible results.

Establishing and maintaining partnerships with other support programmes is efficient for implementation and avoids duplication of efforts.

The minimum investment requires a dedicated individual in the national local agency to drive the process, continued support towards training auditing of efforts of approach and continued recognition at the highest levels on the importance of a resourced and effective water quality monitoring programme.

The success of the solution is embodied in the US EPA certification of the Marshall Islands EPA laboratory, the need for improved water quality monitoring being identified in national frameworks, improvements to the proficiency round performance of laboratories, and a raised profile of water quality monitoring in each of the pilot countries.

Other Pacific island countries have been scoped on a needs and requested basis although funding has yet to be secured for replicating the solution in other countries.

Water Services Department

The Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC) of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)

E-mail: wash@sopac.org