Too many Pacific Islanders still lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation, the Chairman of the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) Board, Fuimaono Dominic Schwalger, has warned.
Speaking at the opening of the 16th Pacific Water and Wastewater Conference & Expo and the 9th Pacific Water Ministers Forum at Friendship Hall in Honiara on Monday, Mr Schwalger described the situation as a “water crisis.”
“Almost four out of ten Pacific people remain without access to basic drinking water services, and approximately two-thirds remain without access to basic sanitation. With those types of data, we have a water crisis in our hands,” he said.
This year’s conference theme is “Water and Wastewater for All: Connecting People, Policies, and Communities for a Shared Sustainable Future,” which aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6 – universal access to safe water and sanitation.
Mr Schwalger highlighted serious operational challenges facing utilities in the region, including high non-revenue water losses. In some cases, he said, utilities lose up to 75 percent of water through leaks, theft, and ageing infrastructure.
“These aren’t just statistics for a report – they are impediments to economic development, dignity, and the health of our people,” he stressed.
He added that rapid urban growth is outpacing outdated infrastructure, while financing upgrades remains complex, particularly in peri-urban areas and small markets.
Climate change, he said, is compounding the crisis by reshaping rainfall patterns, salinising coastal aquifers, and increasing droughts and floods.
“These pressures challenge not only our way of life and existence but also the mana that water holds in our cultural communities.
“A call for action is required, not only in our national agendas but collectively as a Pasefika community,” he urged.
Mr Schwalger said what sets this conference apart is the Pacific Water and Wastewater Ministers Forum, the only regional platform where ministers meet specifically on water and sanitation to align policy, prioritise investment, and connect political will with on-the-ground expertise.
“Their presence ensures our dialogue is not just informative, but influential,” he said.
He also stressed the significance of timing, with Honiara set to host Pacific leaders in the coming weeks. “The outcomes and messages we craft here can help drive water security higher on the regional agenda and translate commitment into funded, sequenced delivery across our member countries,” he said.
The conference which is underway at the Aquatic centre will end on Friday.
