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Fostering Pacific resilience through groundwater

Managing Coastal Aquifers in selected Pacific SIDS

By IW:LEARN

March 27^th, 2024

Most Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific rely upon coastal aquifers for freshwater supply. However, saltwater intrusion, rising sea levels, over-abstraction, storm surge inundation, droughts, and pollution stemming from land-use activities are putting these aquifers at risk.

Climate change, resulting in greater and more frequent extremes, further exacerbates these impacts, compromising the integrity of these already fragile freshwater sources and their usefulness as a freshwater source for the communities that depend on them.

To address these impacts, the Pacific Community (SPC), in collaboration with UNDP and the governments of Palau, Tuvalu, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), has initiated the Managing Coastal Aquifers (MCA) Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The project is designed to enhance the understanding, management, and protection of coastal aquifers, focusing on strengthening water security in the face of climate change impacts.

At the core of the work is the strong collaboration with government partners, communities, and stakeholders to leverage local knowledge coupled with technical expertise to provide sustainable solutions tailored to the unique needs of each participating island nation.

Celebrating this year’s World Water Day, we dive into how the MCA project works within these three nations to build resilience through infrastructure development, capacity building, and engagement.

Palau – enhancing infrastructure for reliable water supply

In Palau, the Bureau of Environment within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Environment (MAFE) leads the implementation of the MCA Project.

The project emphasizes safeguarding groundwater recharge areas and strengthening the climate resilience of water supply systems in Kayangel. It supports the Government of Palau, particularly the Palau Public Utilities Corporation (PPUC), in further protecting its fresh groundwater resources.

Fostering Pacific resilience through groundwater

The recent completion of repairing and enhancing critical water infrastructure including raising critical pump house infrastructure above the impacts of seawater inundation has improved the overall sustainability, reliability, and resilience of water source/supply for the local population against the adverse impacts of climate change on water security.

Marshall Islands (RMI) – building capacity to protect reservoirs

A groundwater monitoring network was established in 1998 on the Laura freshwater lens to investigate and monitor this freshwater resource, which supplies water to the people of RMI’s capital, Majuro.

SPC is working closely with the RMI Government to help reestablish and improve this monitoring network. Groundwater loggers will be installed to improve data collection and record changes in fresh groundwater quality, gaining insights into the dynamics of this freshwater lens for future operation and management of groundwater abstraction.

Groundwater monitoring in Laura freshwater at RMI island. Photo: MCA project.

Groundwater investigation and monitoring require drilling and constructing monitoring bores. In remote island locations, these bores require small, portable drill rigs capable of drilling as deep as 30m. The MCA project has sourced a portable man rig from Thailand, which will be used to trial drilling and monitoring bores for freshwater lens investigations in remote island locations.

RMI Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has been trained in the basic operation of the drill rig, with further onsite training in April 2024. The training will include the construction of groundwater monitoring bores to replace the aging monitoring bore infrastructure in Laura’s freshwater lens.

The project aims to demonstrate the innovative drilling approach and broaden the monitoring network to remote locations of RMI such as Wotje Atoll to further enhance their understanding, development, and management of island groundwater resources.

This collaborative endeavor aims to empower the local government to take proactive measures to develop and manage fresh groundwater resources sustainably.

This strategy is designed to strengthen the sustainability of freshwater management practices, reinforcing RMI’s resilience in the face of climate change.

Tuvalu – strengthening relationships through local leadership

Lono Leneuoti, the MCA project National Coordinator for Tuvalu, is based at the Climate Change department and works alongside various stakeholders including other government agencies, NGOs, and local communities, to deliver the project benefits to communities and strengthen the existing water management knowledge systems, and water security of outer islands.

Lono Leneuoti, MCA National Project Coordinator:

"I have been working very closely with our partners to develop and implement effective strategies that have led to successful ventures, such as the:

Establishment of community-based water monitoring teams in Tuvalu's Nanumea, Nui, and Vaitupu islands, comprising Kaupule (island council) and Red Cross volunteers, who are equipped with necessary tools,
Ongoing dialogue and engagement with Kaupule, and community members about project activities, and water-related challenges,
Groundwater investigations for Nui to map out the location of potential groundwater aquifers and the extent of the area and depth of the freshwater lenses underneath,
Preparation works to construct a groundwater infiltration gallery in Nanumea, including obtaining development approval from the Department of Environment and conducting community consultations, and
Monitoring overall progress, identifying any challenges or obstacles, and taking proactive measures to address them effectively.

One of the most important aspects of my role is to ensure that our efforts contribute to improving water security for the communities we serve. This means not only focusing on the technical aspects of the project but also considering the social, economic, and environmental factors that impact water access and quality.

Ultimately, my aim is to make sure that the project makes a meaningful and sustainable impact on the lives of the people we work with, helping to create a future where water resources are managed responsibly and equitably for the benefit of all".

About the MCA project

The Managing Coastal Aquifers (MCA) project works alongside Palau, Tuvalu, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to locate, maintain, and manage access to freshwater resources for Pacific peoples. The Managing Coastal Aquifers (MCA) Project is implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC), the peak scientific & technical agency of the Pacific region. The Global Environment Fund (GEF) funded the project in partnership with the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP).

For more information, please contact Peter Sinclair, Water Resources Assessment and Monitoring Coordinator, (peters2@spc.int), or visit the project page on iwlearn.net