A looming water crisis is unfolding again in Gizo, Western Province, as residents continue to face critical shortages of clean and reliable water.
Lack of rain over the past months had been attributed to residents in the township and surrounding communities facing water shortage.
Most of the water tanks have either run dry or are providing minimal, inconsistent supply.
Many households are now relying on rainwater tanks and wells for drinking, cooking and washing.
Concerned residents have raised alarms over the deteriorating situation, calling on responsible authorities to urgently address what is now a public health and safety concern.
“We’ve had very little to no water for weeks and months,” one Gizo resident told Solomon Star.
“This is not just inconvenient — it’s dangerous. Families are struggling to maintain hygiene, and schools and clinics are being affected.”
While water issues have been a recurring challenge in Gizo over the years and decades, the current crisis appears to be more prolonged and widespread than usual.
The lack of investment in sustainable water infrastructure, coupled with ongoing population growth and changing weather patterns, has compounded the problem.
Local authorities are yet to provide a clear response or long-term solution.
Calls for Solomon Water and provincial leaders to step in have so far seen limited progress.
Community leaders are urging the national government to prioritise Gizo in upcoming development plans, particularly in strengthening access to clean and safe water.
With the dry season expected to continue in the coming weeks, there is growing fear that the situation may worsen if immediate action is not taken.
Residents are hoping that renewed attention from both local and national authorities will finally bring lasting solutions to Gizo’s long-standing water woes
Meanwhile, residents are still waiting for the updates on the desalination plant to be setup in Gizo.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
