water supply

During the festive season, Member Iduhu attended a community meeting at Papa village in Central’s Hiri West, to discuss water supply challenges affecting Papa, Bogi, and Metago.

Village leaders, Water PNG, LABA Holdings and representatives of the Hiri Koiari District Development Authority attended the meeting with villagers.

The Yalu bore water project, valued at K245,762, was opened on Saturday, May 13^th, by the Ahi Hope Foundation, Ahi Prudential Development and village elders.

Woman leader, Ngawi Buno, said they used to have running water from a dam until around three years ago when youths in the village damaged some pipes.

“Pasin blo bikhet na ol i katim wara na bagarapim wara,” she said. (Because of misbehaviour and our water supply was damaged.)

Today at Gunanba Elementary School, drilling for water started, thanks to KVULLG and partners, Isam Drillers and Barlow Industries following a brief gathering to signify the commencement of the project worth K250, 000 that is expected to benefit a population of 4, 000 in the two wards.

Present at the occasion were Kokopo Mayor Isidor Bonga, Gunanba ward member Marcello Wagaia, Ngunguna ward member Augustine Pabet, KVULLG Health Inspector Relvie Taplar, Oxy Aron from Isam Drillers and residents from the two wards.

It serves a catchment area of around 8,000 people scattered around the hinterland of Pomio and coastal areas of the local level government. 

It is up to 20 minutes boat ride from the Pomio District Administrative Centre at Palmalmal.

Although located near the banks of the Matale River, until recently, the Pomio Health Centre never had access to reliable and constant water on-site. Patients had to go to the river to wash, including immediately after giving birth, and staff had to search for safe drinking water for patients. 

The community needs consistent water supply to make toilets that are at the standard that the ODF program requires.

Anis Foundation, as the implementer of the ODF further assured Tauruba Community that it will assist in bringing in the water supply to make the toilets international standards.

Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture and Samarai-Murua MP, Isi Henry Leonard, says funding was secured in December 2020 to purchase the pipes, which will supply water to the township.

“Last year December I managed to provide funding and send some of our officers to Alotau to purchase all the water piping system for the upgrading of our two dams that provide fresh water to the township of Bwagoia and surrounding villages,” stated the Minister.

Sheer negligence has resulted in the damage of water pipes worth K12 million, says Daru Island Town Mayor, Samuel Wingu.

Wingu states the Island receives water from the mainland through pipes connected beneath the sea.

However, after years of exposure to climate change and the oceanic’s acidic levels, the pipes are damaged beyond repair.

Wingu further explained there were plans to repair the Island’s water supply system by the PNG Sustainable Development Program Limited however, these K12 million pipes went up in flames.

The two villages will now have access to 40 taps of water located in different areas of the village including the Papa primary school, Bogi and Metago.

Although the water supply will be supplied for free for the first 17 days, the grace period will end on the 31st of December, taking note of the day the supply started.

Meantime, the struggle will be final lessened for villagers and especially the women folk .

The hospital ran out of water late last year creating an emergency situation that seriously affected its capacity to care for patients and staff.

Goroka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Sarah Shelley told Loop PNG: “Over the last week I have received numerous complaints from business houses and citizens of Goroka Town concerned about the Goroka water supply situation.

“Business such as hotels and restaurants operating inn Goroka which use the town water supply are largely affected with being supplied with muddy/ dirty water, a major health concern and extremely unacceptable.