Solomon Water is the State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) appointed and responsible supplier of water to provincial urban centers of the Solomon Islands and receives a Community Service Obligation (CSO) payment from the Government for provision of services to Auki and Tulagi.

The CSO contract between the Ministry of Finance and Treasury and Solomon Water requires that a Customer Satisfaction Survey be carried out in the towns of Auki and Tulagi to identify patterns in customer experience. The survey includes responses to faults, notification of interruption to water supply and customers’ understanding of invoices. In both Provinces the satisfaction levels of certain services, (Understanding of invoices, Attendance to faults and Notifications of interruptions to water supply) average around 40% satisfactory and 60% not satisfied. In terms of disconnections and reconnections, 96% were satisfied with the remainder 4% not satisfied.

Solomon Water CEO, Ian Gooden stated “2021 has been a very challenging year for us which reflects on the outcome of the survey, however we continue to improve our services in the provinces. We also appreciate the support from the Solomon Islands Government through the Community Service Obligation and look forward to a continuing partnership in 2022”.

A copy of the completed CSO report is available from the Solomon Water communications unit if required.

In support of Government and the Chamber of Commerce initiatives to get many more people vaccinated, Solomon Water has announced a 5% discount on all domestic water and waste water account payments beginning from 1 October until 31 December this year.

All postpaid and cashwater customers who received their first Covid shot or are fully vaccinated are eligible for the discount if they show their vaccination card when they pay their bills at any Solomon Water cashier outlets or electronically (electronic payers are to present their vaccination cards subsequently to Solomon Water’s Customer Care team). Customers are advised that the discount is one time only and applies to those who have had one or two vaccinations.

The 5% discount is in addition to other smaller prizes such as branded drinking bottles, bags, umbrellas, pens and USB drives that Solomon Water is contributing to the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce “Bisnis For Vaccines” campaign.

The campaign is to encourage and drive vaccination amongst all Solomon islanders as Solomon Islands continues its fight against COVID-19.

The “Bisnis For Vaccines” campaign will reward anyone who received their first jab or has been fully vaccinated with prizes to be drawn in coming months.

CEO Ian Gooden says Solomon Water is happy to support SICCI and government in this important campaign to protect Solomon Islanders against the coronavirus “We are participating in this campaign by donating some small prizes, but more importantly we are offering all customers who come to pay their water accounts a 5% discount if they show their vaccination card.  Solomon Water has over 14,000 customers and this campaign is to encourage customers to get vaccinated and also to reward them by saving themselves some money”.

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Note for Solomon Water Customers:

5% discount terms and conditions

• Solomon Water offers the discount only to domestic customers who are vaccinated.
• Customers who received their first vaccination or are fully vaccinated are eligible to claim the discount.
•  Customers can pay at Solomon Water cashiers or electronically.
•  Customers who pay electronically are to present their vaccination cards subsequently to Solomon Water’s Customer Care team.
• Vaccinated customers are required to show their vaccination record card to the cashier to claim the discount. Please note the Solomon Water cashier will photocopy your card for our records.
• Discount is one-time only.
• Discount offer starts on Friday 1 October 2021 until Friday 31 December 2021.
• Contact Customer Care team on 44700 for more information.

Solomon Water has awarded a major contract to Plan International Australia to implement a Hygiene Promotion Project in six Honiara settlements.

The Hygiene Promotion Project is expected to improve effective hygiene behavior and increase the number of households using effective toilets and hand washing facilities in selected settlements. It is part of Solomon Water’s overall water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) program under the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP).

Honiara settlements that will benefit from the WASH Hygiene Promotion Project are Kombito 1, Kombito 2, Kombito 3, Mamulele, Green Valley and Independence Valley.   The settlement selection process was conducted by Solomon Water and the Honiara City Council.

“Plan International Australia has extensive experience in the WASH sector and Solomon Water is excited to work with their team” said Solomon Water CEO Ian Gooden. “The Hygiene Promotion Project focuses on improving hand washing at critical times, using an effective toilet, and managing and using water in a safe and hygienic way”.

“While the Hygiene Promotion Project was not designed specifically to address pandemics such as the current coronavirus, Solomon Water expects the project to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene practices for approximately 7,000 people – including women and girls - in the selected settlements” he said. “In turn, the improved WASH behaviors will ultimately reduce the transmission of water and air borne illnesses, including coronavirus”.

The Hygiene Promotion Project is part of Solomon Water’s Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP) that is funded by the Solomon Islands Government and development partners the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank and European Union (EU).

Other key WASH projects Solomon Water is implementing under UWSSSP are a recently completed WASH Household Survey and the WASH in Schools Project.

The Hygiene Promotion Project has commenced and will be implemented over 14 months.

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Solomon Water has awarded a $16m contract to Australian based international consultants SMEC International Pty. Ltd. to implement the second phase of the detailed engineering design project as a part of the wider Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP) funded by the Solomon Islands Government with its development partners the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank (WB) and European Union (EU).

“Solomon Water’s vision is to provide safe water for a healthy nation and the detailed designs and studies that this contract will produce will advance us towards this vision” CEO Ian Gooden said. “Solomon Water welcomes SMEC on board and we look forward to the outcome of the project”.

The second phase of the detailed engineering project covers six critical activities:

1. Implementation of an Asset Management System.
2. A new five year action plan.
3. Identification and design of large pipeline replacement programme to reduce non revenue water losses.
4. Expansion of Solomon Water’s service in Honiara to areas currently unable to be supplied in the Noah Hill, Nine ridges and Mount Austen area .
5. Identification and design of pipeline replacements for the wastewater collection system rehabilitation.
6. Feasibility study and design of the proposed Choiseul Province township water and waste water system.

The project will run for seventeen months and is due to commence shortly.

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Please visit www.solomonwater.com.sb or follow Solomon Water on Facebook for more information.