Find Water and Sanitation expertise in Nauru

There are frequent droughts and a shortage of fresh water in Nauru as a result of the changes in Pacific Ocean temperatures, the only local source being the Buada Lagoon which is no longer used for drinking. The Nauru Utilities Authority supplies fresh water to the island using a diesel-fuelled desalination plant, which used to be operated by the Nauru Phosphate Corporation. A global organisation, SOPAC, has reviewed the use of desalination plants in many of the Pacific Island countries, including Nauru. Recent projects plan to install power generation systems and sea water desalination plants so that the citizen’s source of water will reach them quicker as the delivery time of Nauru water will reduce from every four weeks to every three weeks. This project is being funded by the Pacific Environment Community (PEC).

As part of their National Sustainable Development Strategy, the government has been digging wells for community use in each district, although there is little water quality control or surveillance. Nauru use to use the process of desalination; however the plant has not operated since 2001. There is a possibility for groundwater resources but these are yet to be explored. All bottled water is imported. The Nauru Rehabilitation Corporation is responsible for Nauru’s sewage system. As of 2008, 90% of the population has access to an improved drinking source but only 50% had access to improved sanitation facilities.

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