Honiara, Solomon Islands (August 24), 2026 — Solomon Water, with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), recently completed a week long Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) knowledge-sharing and development workshop with the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) in Honiara from 17-21 August, 2026.

The workshop provided an opportunity for Solomon Water staff to learn from WAF’s experience in developing and implementing an ESMS, undertake practical site visits, and conduct consultations with Solomon Water teams to understand existing environmental and social practices, systems, policies and procedures.

A key outcome of the workshop was the completion of an initial gap analysis, which confirmed that Solomon Water already has a range of systems and good practices for managing environmental and social risks. These include the Water Safety Plan, health and safety systems, catchment management arrangements, customer and grievance mechanisms, human resources policies, operational procedures and project safeguards processes. However, these practices are currently spread across different departments and are not always connected through one consistent organisational framework.

The workshop therefore provided a clear basis for developing a Solomon Water-owned ESMS that will connect existing practices, clarify roles and responsibilities, strengthen risk management and ensure environmental and social considerations are incorporated into routine organisational decision-making.

The ESMS will be aligned with Solomon Islands legislation and Solomon Water’s existing policies, plans and procedures.

Key outcomes:

• Increased knowledge-sharing between WAF and Solomon Water on practical ESMS development and implementation.
• Completed initial consultations and gap analysis across Solomon Water departments.
• Identified existing environmental and social systems and good practices that can be strengthened and integrated.
• Identified priority gaps, including coordination, documentation, accountability, early integration of E&S considerations and capacity.
• Agreed on the direction and key components of the Solomon Water ESMS.
• Established a practical work programme for developing the ESMS framework, policy, tools, templates and SOP integration recommendations.

The next phase will focus on translating the findings from the workshop into a practical ESMS package consisting of framework and policy for senior management and Board consideration, followed by awareness, socialisation and eventual implementation support.

The overall objective is not to create another donor safeguards system, but to establish a practical, Solomon Water-owned management system that builds on existing practices and makes environmental and social management part of normal business operations.

As part of the closing, Solomon Water and WAF exchanged cultural gifts, celebrating friendship, shared Pacific values and regional cooperation.

Acting CEO Mr. Ray Andresen expressed his gratitude to WAF and ADB for facilitating the workshop, highlighting the importance of Pacific collaboration and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing in strengthening water utilities across the region.

The workshop was facilitated by Ms Julia Whippy, ESMS Consultant WAF, Ms Rolini Nand, Manager of Environment Safeguards Unit, WAF, Mr Jay Roop, ADB Safeguards Team Leader, and Ms Kate Walker, ADB Technical Assistance Consultant.

Team from ADB, Water Authority Fiji and Solomon Water during a site visit at Tasahe Reservoir.

Team from ADB, WAF and Solomon Water during a site visit at Tuvaruhu center.

Honiara, Solomon Islands (June 9), 2026—Solomon Water is making positive progress in the construction of three new concrete water reservoirs at Tasahe, Titinge, and Panatina in Honiara.

The construction of new reservoirs is a sub-project of the Urban Water Supply, Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP) to improve access to and quality of water supply in Honiara and improve sanitation in urban and peri-urban areas.

The scope of works involves increasing and securing water storage capacity at Tasahe by replacing the old 0.9 ML(Mega Litre)  steel tank with a new 3 ML reservoir, constructing a new 3.05 ML reservoir at Titinge, and developing a new 2.5 ML reservoir at Panatina.

Major components of the sub-project have reached a significant milestone with the completion of all structures for each new water reservoirs.

Progress continues at the Tasahe, Titinge, and Panatina Water Tank Reservoir sites as works move into testing, commissioning, and final operational preparations.

The reservoirs have already undergone disinfection processes, with tank filling and leakage testing currently underway. Pipe interconnection works, distribution and yard piping installations, electrical fixture installations, stormwater drainage works, and fencing activities are also progressing across the sites.

Flow meters and monitoring instruments are being installed, while hydro-pressure testing, pipe plumbing, electrical testing, and commissioning activities will continue as part of the final stages of the projects.

Solomon Water Acting Chief Executive Officer Mr. Ray Andresen highlighted that the UWSSSP is a transformative investment for the country.

“This project is not only improving water access for thousands of residents but also strengthening our capacity to deliver sustainable and efficient services into the future,” Mr. Andresen said.

Community engagement remains a key component of the project, ensuring that local residents are informed and involved throughout implementation. Solomon Water continues to work closely with stakeholders to minimize disruptions during construction and maximize long-term benefits.

The UWSSSP is part of Solomon Water’s broader commitment to achieving national development goals and ensuring equitable access to essential services.

Once completed, these reservoirs will reduce water disruption, especially during heavy rains; increase storage capacity, giving several extra hours of supply backup; and support growing urban demand in Honiara.

The project is jointly supported by the Solomon Islands Government, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, and the European Union and constructed by the Pacific Engineering Project Ltd

Honiara, Solomon Islands (May 11^th), 2026 -  Solomon Water is pleased to announce the launch of its new “Pay Your Bill & Win” Tank Campaign, aimed at encouraging customers to stay up to date with their water bill payments while rewarding four (4) responsible customers across our service areas.

The five-month campaign officially commences on Monday 11th May 2026 and gives domestic customers the opportunity to win a 3,000L household water tank through a structured prize draw program. Customers who pay their bills during the campaign period will be eligible to enter the draw by submitting their receipts into official entry boxes located at Solomon Water cashier outlets in Honiara, Auki, Noro and Tulagi.

This initiative forms part of Solomon Water’s ongoing efforts to strengthen customer engagement, improve bill payment compliance, and support revenue collection needed to maintain safe and reliable water services for our communities. Solomon Water recognizes that customer understanding of billing processes and payment options remains inconsistent, contributing to delayed payments and reduced cash flow. Through this campaign, Solomon Water aims to encourage timely payments while increasing awareness of available payment methods and services.

The campaign is open to domestic customers only, including both conventional and Cash Water meter customers (post-paid and prepaid) within Solomon Water’s service areas in Honiara, Auki, Noro and Tulagi.

Customers can participate by paying their water bill online or at any Solomon Water cashier outlet, collecting their receipt or payment confirmation, writing their name and contact details on the back, and placing it into the official entry boxes provided at Solomon Water offices.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Ray Andresen says “Reliable water services depend on all of us working together. With this campaign, we want to encourage customers to stay up to date with their payments while also giving something back to the communities we serve. Every payment helps Solomon Water continue operating, maintaining and improving water services across Honiara and our provincial centers,”

The campaign will be supported through ongoing customer awareness activities, and coordinated operational support across Solomon Water service centers throughout the campaign period.

Under the campaign’s key message, “Pay your water bill and win a water tank,” Solomon Water continues to remind customers that reliable water starts with responsible payment and that timely bill payments help support continued access to safe and reliable water services for communities across our service areas.

Solomon Water is pleased to announce the awarding of the Honiara Trunk Main Replacement Sub project to Reeves CCB Envico Joint Venture, an Australia-based company with extensive construction experience across the Pacific region.

The project is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank (WB), under the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP) and represents another significant step in addressing critical water quality and security issues in Honiara.

This is the second major trunk mains replacement project funded under UWSSSP with the phase 1 of the project due to complete later this year.

This project aims to:

• Reduce leakage losses associated with aging and defective pipework, particularly older grey PVC pipes prone to material failures
• Improve the hydraulic capacity of the bulk water transmission system to meet future demand and ensure a reliable water supply

The proposed works will include the replacement of about 10km of existing PVC trunk mains typically 150 mm diameter with new larger fusion-welded Polyethylene pipes, typically 315 mm diameter.

Those living in Tasahe/Ngossi, Skyline to East Kola, Borderline/Kombito, Vura Area,  Kombito to Panatina Reservoir may expect some disruption as many of the pipes to be replaced are in public roads. Solomon Water and our Contractor will keep affected parties informed in advance and work closely to minimize the impacts.

Solomon Water remains committed to delivering sustainable water supply and sanitation services to the people of Honiara. The commencement of this project marks an important milestone in improving the reliability and quality of water services for the community.