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Tuvalu

International Waters Project

Promoting the Adoption of Safe Toilet Systems in Funafuti

What is the problem?

During high tides and heavy rains it is likely that contaminated effluent from soakage pits is overflowing into low-lying residential areas, putting people at risk from illnesses such as hepatitis, typhoid, gastroenteritis and diarrhea. Diarrhea is a leading cause of death, in many Pacific Island communities, particularly in children under five years of age.

During high tides and heavy rains people in Funafuti are at risk of direct exposure to wastewater

There is an urgent need to improve the management of toilet waste in Funafuti the capital of Tuvalu. The current water-based systems for managing toilet waste, such as water-sealed latrines and septic tanks, are now threatening the sensitive groundwater system of this fragile atoll.

What is the objective of the Tuvalu International Waters Project?

The Tuvalu International Waters Project (IWP) is working together with the neighboring communities of Alapi and Senala to find ways to improve the management of toilet waste and promote the adoption of practical, cost-effective and safe toilet systems in Funafuti.

Funafuti is a small community of only 4000 people and many people are living on daily incomes of less that $AUD4 per day. The construction, operation and maintenance of a centralized, fully-reticulated, wastewater treatment system is not currently a viable option for Tuvalu.

Who is managing the project?

The Tuvalu IWP is being managed by Tuvalu’s Department of Environment in partnership with the Prime Minister’s Office and the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

The Tuvalu IWP is the only one of 14 projects in the Pacific region that is specifically trying to address wastewater contamination. It is therefore providing something of a model for the entire region.

Background

For decades flush toilets and septic tank systems have been promoted in Funafuti as the most safe and hygienic way to dispose of human waste.

However these systems are inappropriate for an atoll environment where pollutants can move easily between the groundwater system and the lagoon. Many of these septic tanks were not constructed properly and recent surveys by the IWP have found that most of these systems are now leaking into the groundwater system.

This compost toilet has been in use by a family in Senala for more than a year.

Even when these systems are well constructed, Tuvalu’s high groundwater levels, and porous soils make this technology a potential health hazard. In the densely populated areas of Alapi and Senala many of these septic tanks are now discharging directly into the ground water. The septic tanks are located too close to each other, too close to wells, and to homes.

During high tides and heavy rains it is likely that contaminated effluent from soakage pits is overflowing into low-lying residential areas putting residents (and particularly children) at risk from direct exposure to invisible organisms that cause disease.

There is now an algal scum forming along the lagoon shoreline adjacent to the pilot communities. This could be an impact of the nutrients discharged from the many pigpens, septic tanks and pour flush latrines leaching from the village.

In Tuvalu rainwater is the only cheap and reliable source of potable water. Most ground water is contaminated because of the extensive use of water sealed latrines, leakage from septic tanks, and from pigpens. Some wells have relatively fresh water, which is used for washing clothes, flushing toilets, bathing, and other daily uses.

There is currently lack of awareness within the community of the environmental impacts caused by unmanaged wastewater on groundwater, human health, and surrounding environment

There is also limited financial and technical support available to assist households (and the Government) to install and maintain environmentally sound wastewater treatment systems.

What is the IWP doing to address these problems?

The IWP is taking a staged approach to: raise awareness of the problem; develop appropriate solutions and then; to promote sustained behaviour change.

The IWP wants to ensure the Government has a clear mandate and the resources required to improve the management of sanitation beyond the completion of the project in December 2006.

The IWP will provide Cabinet with a report detailing the costs and benefits of all the solutions currently available to address this problem in Funafuti. The recommendations will include clear information about the financial, human and institutional resources required to support the ongoing management of safe sanitation in Tuvalu.

The Tuvalu Water and Sanitation Plan will be reviewed, updated as necessary, and adopted. The objective of any future work at the national or institutional level must be to ensure that the Government can help to provide the basic resources and technical advice for communities and householders to adopt safe toilet systems.

The IWP is now searching for a low cost solution to the problem. Currently the IWP is working to:

The Tuvalu IWP is now working to ensure that:

The Community:

• is aware of the wastewater problem and the possible solutions
• has a plan to implement the preferred solutions
• can pilot some of these low-cost solutions as demonstration projects

The Government:

• can use these lessons from the community to develop a clear plan to improve the management of wastewater at the national level
• will draft and implement a National Water and Sanitation Plan
• will draft any appropriate legislation as required
• will prepare a project proposal for donor agencies to assist in the sanitation battle.