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Solomon Water has signed a declaration of intention (DOI) with the European Union (EU). The DOI is to provide funding for Solomon Water projects to improve access to safe water and improved sanitation in Honiara.
Solomon Water has signed a declaration of intention (DOI) with the European Union (EU). The DOI is to provide funding for Solomon Water projects to improve access to safe water and improved sanitation in Honiara.
Solomon Water would like to inform our valued customers that recent heavy rainfalls has impacted our supply and many Honiara residents have been without water over the past few days. Supply was turned off on Wednesday 17 May due to the heavy rains in the water catchment area. The heavy rains also caused a major landslide which has affected the Chubina sinkhole, one of the sinkholes supplying Kongulai to collapse into the underground cave system.
Solomon Water CEO Ian Gooden says “We are right now monitoring the situation and are sending an investigative team to review the situation and consider solutions to the site in the morning. It could take a few days to resolve this as there is a lot of debris in the cave entrance and the area remains quite unsafe".
On Tuesday 16 May, Solomon Water together with stakeholders and partners celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for the Honiara Water Reservoirs and Trunk Mains Project at the Panatina Reservoir site. The ceremony was led by the Minister for Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Honorable Bradley Tovosia, and attended by officials from the Solomon Islands Government, Guadalcanal Provincial Government, key Solomon Water stakeholders and project donors, the Asian Development Bank, European Union and the World Bank.
Solomon Water has today signed an agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to provide follow-up support to improve the borefields production in Honiara. This support comes after JICA's significant funding of four borefields and reservoirs/pump stations, and Non-Revenue Water (NRW) reduction support to Solomon Water from 2013 to 2015.
Solomon Water is starting the recruitment process to find a new CEO. Incumbent CEO, Ian Gooden’s contract is coming to an end and the SOE is looking for someone to replace him. Time is allowed for a proper handover before Mr Gooden finishes at the end of July.
Board Chairman for Solomon Water, Mr Donald Marahare said “Mr Gooden has been the longest serving CEO Solomon Water has ever had, with 8 years’ service. During this time he has developed a 30 year Strategic Plan and then began implementing the first 5 years action plan. Mr Gooden has negotiated more than USD 100 m in funds from various donors and there is currently more than USD 40 m of works under construction”.
Solomon Water still needs more funding for major upgrades to our existing infrastructure and also to extend operations to Gizo and Munda; funds for these are currently under negotiation.
“Our service delivery and reputation has improved significantly and Solomon Water now has a strong and committed staff. We thank Mr Gooden for his years of hard work” said Mr Marahare.
Mr Gooden has also been a Board director, and for the past 2 years, Chairman of the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association, the peak body for all water utilities across the Pacific.
The search for a new CEO will be conducted internationally to ensure we get the best possible candidates to take Solomon Water into the next phase of its development, with much construction works and significant upgrades to all our infrastructure.
Solomon Water remains committed to its vision to provide “Safe water for a healthy nation” and continues to work towards improving our services to our customers.
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.
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