Solomon Water would like to inform the public of the steps we are taking to address the recent issues with brackish water in the water supply in Noro, Western Province.

Upon receiving information about complaints from customers on Sunday evening, Solomon Water immediately dispatched a team to investigate the issue. We discovered a high level of electrical conductivity (EC) in the water, indicating the presence of salt water, and have identified that the cause of the brackish water was due to salt water intrusion in the water supply system during high tide.

The team's first task upon arrival was to ensure that the water supply system was cleaned of any presence of salt water, which was carried out on Monday this week. This action has led to our electrical conductivity (EC) test results now being within the World Health Organization (WHO) Drinking Water standards or guidelines.

In order to prevent any future incidents, our team is working to improve our monitoring and testing regime for EC tests, especially during king tides and high seas from low depression periods. Additionally, we have put controls in place to minimize the risk of salt water intrusion in the future. This includes temporarily shutting down our water production plant if necessary.

We are also working on finding immediate, short-term and long-term solutions to mitigate the risk posed by high seas and king tides, which could include substantial changes to our intake infrastructure.

We would like to continue to reassure our customers that we understand the importance of clean and safe drinking water and are committed to providing our customers with the highest level of service. We regret the hardship the recent brackish water issue caused for our valued customers in Noro and we appreciate your patience as we work to resolve the issue.

For updates and further information, please contact our customer care services in Noro and in Honiara.

Media contact:

Ruth Ramoifuila, Communications and Corporate Support Coordinator

Phone: 44662  | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ends//

Solomon Water would like to extend our sincerest apologies to our valued customers in Noro, Western Province for the recent issues with brackish water. We regret the inconvenience and concern this has caused and want to assure you we are taking immediate action to respond to the problem.

We are working to identify the cause of the brackish water and to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we advise customers to take all necessary precautions and avoid using the affected water for drinking, food preparation, cooking and consumption.

We understand the importance of clean and safe drinking water and Solomon Water is committed to providing our customers with the highest level of service. We will continue to work diligently to restore the water supply to its normal quality.

We appreciate your patience as we work to resolve the issue.

For updates and further information, please contact our customer care service in Noro or in Honiara.

Media contact:

Ruth Ramoifuila, Communications and Corporate Support Coordinator

Phone: 44662  | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ends//

 “Improving value, Improving services and Improving for the future”

Solomon Water strives to provide our customers with safe and reliable water and wastewater services. Back in 2012, Solomon Water used to supply water for around 5 hours per day. With the many improvements that we are undertaking, our supply duration is now over 22 hours per day, and we are striving to provide a 24 hours water service to our customers in the near future.

In meeting the evolving regulatory requirements, water supply needs and customer expectations in the future, Solomon Water announces to its customers that as of January 1 2023 there has been an increase in our water and wastewater tariffs. As part of our ongoing “We Are With You” campaign, the increase will be aimed at improving services to our customers and this includes the Kongulai treatment plant, increasing water production in the Kombito/Panatina area and upgrades to our provincial water supplies.

Solomon Water appreciates the difficulties to customers at present due to wet weather affecting the water catchment areas at Kongulai and Kombito and we are taking steps to try and reduce the impacts caused by the illegal activities that are causing the dirty water. Solomon Water also appreciates the hardships customers experienced during the water rationing last year. We are continuing to work with landowners and responsible authorities to ensure water catchment areas are protected and supply to our weirs and reservoirs is uninterrupted.

We have made several improvements in 2022 to increase our production capacity to reduce the impact of these shutdowns, and have several more planned for 2023. Over the past year we have completed projects to rehabilitate and upgrade the Rove Source, upgrade the Kwaibala source in Auki and also started work to increase production and protect our boreholes at Panatina. Mobilisation to start the Kongulai Water Treatment Plant and the Honiara Trunk Mains and Reservoir projects has also started. There have been delays commencing earthworks for all the projects but this is to be expected post COVID-19, especially in Solomon Islands. We are now looking at starting construction for both projects in the next two months and they will be completed in late 2024. When completed, Solomon Water will be able to produce water regardless of weather and catchment conditions. Forty cents from every kilolitre of water sold will go towards future management and protection of the water catchment areas.

To assist with this effort, the Government through the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and the Ministry of Finance and Treasury has approved an increase in the water tariff and the commercial monthly standing charge, which are now in effect. It reflects the cost of delivery of water and wastewater services and the continuous improvements that we will be undertaking to provide safe and reliable water services in our areas of operations. Other minor changes, including new domestic service connections and other fees, have also been approved.

Board Chairman Donald Marahare said “We thank the Government for working with us and supporting the need for adequate funding for improvements to Solomon Water’s services. We acknowledge that some households may struggle to afford basic services but note that the water supplied by Solomon Water meets World Health Standards 98% of the time and is safe to drink. The new tariff represents only an increase of 39 cents per kilolitre (tonne) of water for the lowest domestic tariff band and is considerably lower than increases in power and foodstuffs experienced over the past year.

Our tariff is partly driven by high electricity costs (which has increased over 50% in 2022 over the previous year) and the need to provide our share of funds into the significant donor-funded upgrade programme. We also need to fund loan repayments to Government for some of the donor-funded works. We ask Government to assist us with further donor grant funds instead of loans to assist in keeping water affordable to all our customers”.

We appreciate that clean water and good sanitation is critical for people to remain healthy and Solomon Water’s vision “Safe water for a healthy nation” is at the heart of our work with stakeholders, communities and customers in improving our services. Improved water and sanitation leads to better health outcomes for everyone, healthier children, less time off school and work, and reduced health costs.

We’re with you in improving value, improving services and improving for the future - all aimed at delivering our vision of “Safe water for a healthy nation”.

Media contact:

Ruth Ramoifuila, Communications and Corporate Support Coordinator

Phone: 44662  | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ends//

Solomon Water continues to experience severe water shortages at its Kongulai source affecting many customers in Honiara. This started in July this year and as of this week there have been no significant changes to the situation.

Chief Executive Officer Ian Gooden says, “We continue to experience water shortages at the Kongulai source and the situation remains serious. The issue is blockages at the sinkholes feeding the Kongulai source resulting in the reduction in water production at our intake dam. Our daily water production is normally 13 million litres per day, however this has now reduced to 6.9 million litres per day making it difficult for us to supply water to our customers”.

Kongulai source currently supplies more than 40% of Honiara’s total production and also plays a critical role in pressurizing about 60% of Honiara city, including critical areas.

Daily monitoring of water levels at the Kongulai water source is continuing and we have also made some alterations to our distribution system to ensure water reaches most customers at some time each day. Our investigations to find and clear the blockage in the underground cave system are continuing, however given the complexity of the issue and the obstructions to the sinkhole further inland, it is taking longer than we expected and we are yet to see any significant improvements in the water levels.

“Our team has been investigating the blockages at the sinkhole or in the underground cave system and continue to work with landowners and responsible authorities to clear out the debris which we believe could have been deliberately put in the sinkholes. Further evidence also indicates the sinkhole blockage may have been a result of sediments built up from illegal logging operations in the Kohove area in the past” Mr. Gooden added.

Due to the water shortage, Solomon Water is currently implementing a water rationing program to ensure affected customers have water intermittently. There has been challenges with this program due to aging water infrastructures, power outages at our water pumping stations and water disruptions from burst water mains. This has resulted in customers having no running water for extended periods and outside of the rationing times. We have updated our rationing program and we will continue to review the program to do our very best to ensure all our customers receive some water each day.

To support Solomon Water, we call on the public to use water wisely and to report water leaks and theft as we continue to work to minimize any losses or wastage.

“Solomon Water acknowledges the hardship all of us are experiencing right now. We want to assure our customers and the public in Honiara that even though it has taken a lot of time, our team is working tirelessly to address the issue at Kongulai. We further ask the public to respect our staff in the field during this difficult time”, the Solomon Water CEO said.

Media contact:

Ruth Ramoifuila, Communications and Corporate Support Coordinator

Phone: 44662  | Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ends//