Solomon Water (SW) today gathered with officials from the Solomon Islands Government, the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, the wider business community and Kongulai residents for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction of SW’s new water treatment plant. The plant, which will be located at Solomon Water’s Kongulai Pumping Station, is expected to greatly improve the quality and reliability of the Honiara's water supply.
Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Daniel Rove led the inauguration ceremony and was joined by ADB Solomon Islands Country Office Unit Head Elmar Elbling, World Bank Acting Resident Representative for Solomon Islands Lodewijk Smets, other development partners and SW stakeholders.
"This is a significant milestone for Solomon Water and for the residents of Honiara," said Mr. Gooden, Chief Executive for Solomon Water. "We are thrilled to be able to soon provide Honiara residents with clean, safe water that they can trust. This new water treatment plant will be a valuable asset for Honiara for many years to come."
“The project will provide better access to safe water and improve sanitation in urban areas and help the government and Solomon Water address project environmental and social safeguard issues,” said Mr. Elbling. “The project will prioritize best practices for water utility institutional strengthening.”
“This groundbreaking is an important step towards safer, more reliable water for families and businesses across Honiara. We are pleased to be supporting the government and Solomon Water in this important work that will ultimately improve the health and quality of life of communities in Solomon Islands,” said Annette Leith, World Bank Resident Representative for Solomon Islands.
The World Bank and ADB is funding the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP) with the development objectives to increase access and quality of water supply and quality of sanitation services in Solomon Water service areas, and to improve the operational performance of Solomon water. A key UWSSSP development is the SBD130m Kongulai Water Treatment Plant Project.
The new facility will have the capacity to treat 15 megalitres (million litres) of water per day through the use of clarifiers and filtration. The new facility will also have raw and treated water pump stations, pipe bridges, sludge ponds and site civil works and a new rising main that will connect it with Solomon Water’s Tasahe reservoirs. These advanced treatment technologies and equipment will ensure that the water supplied to residents and businesses meets or exceeds national and international drinking water standards.
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”.
International contractor, REAN PCS Joint Venture, was awarded the Kongulai Water Treatment Plant Project contract in May last year.
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The Kongulai Water Treatment Plant groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of the plant’s construction phase. Breaking ground today (from left to right), World Bank Acting Resident Representative for Solomon Islands Lodewijk Smets, ADB Solomon Islands Country Office Unit Head Elmar Elbling, MMERE Under Secretary Daniel Rove, Guadalcanal Province Premier Francis Sade, Solomon Water Board of Director Gloria Hong, Solomon Water CEO Ian Gooden, MNPDC Permanent Secretary Susan Sulu, New Zealand High Commissioner Jonathan Schwass.