SPC Recovery Support for Tropical Cyclone Pam

Groundwater exploration in West Ambae, Vanuatu

Andreas Antoniou1, Erie Sami2, Peter Sinclair1, Aminisitai Loco1, Anesh Kumar1

1Geoscience Division of the Pacific Community

2Department of Water Resources, Government of Vanuatu

Project background

• Support recovery needs TC Pam– Vanuatu

– Tuvalu

– Kiribati

– Solomon Islands

• Funded by the German banking group KFW

• Integrated multi-sectoral recovery activities

Project objectives

• General objectives– Socio-economic rehabilitation

– Enhancement of living conditions

– Resilience of population in affected areas

• Recovery component “Support for domestic water supply rehabilitation”

• Hydrogeological assessment requested by Government of Vanuatu

Study area

Study area

Climate

• Leeward conditions – rain shadow effect

• High seasonal variability

• Drought Monitoring Index: water supply exhausted between 7 and 14 days

• High vulnerability due to RWH dependency

• People resort to brackish groundwater coastal springs

Pentecost

Maewo

Ambae

Drought monitoring index of PenamaProvince (White, 2016)

Geology

Geophysical survey

• Electrical resistivity

• ABEM Terrameter LS

• 4 cables

• “Roll-along” technique

Selection of survey locations

Conceptual models for groundwater occurrence– Perched groundwater in between lava flows

– Groundwater impoundment between intrusive dikes

after Oki, 2002

Selection of survey lines

Line 3

5 m spacing

Selection of survey lines

Line 1

2.5 m spacing

5 m spacing

Selection of survey lines

Line 6

4 m spacing

Hydrogeological conceptual model

Groundwater occurrence

1. Small dyke-impounded systems

2. Basalts fractured by intrusive dykes

3. Main basal aquifer (freshwater lens)

Additional observations

• Springs at higher altitudes

• Dry streambeds

Recommendations

• Drilling targets classified as primary and secondary

– Expected productivity

– Development potential

– Ease of drilling

– Location

• Recommended drilling depths and expected difficulty

• Improving site accessibility

Next phases

• Phase II

– DoWR and community – (mobilisation)

– Community development officer (DoWR) to liase with Area Secretary to liase with community to set up a Community Development Committee

Next phases

• Phase II

– Community Development Committee and community (access)

– Wharf, Road, Vegetation, Land, custom taboo areas, social issues

Next phases

• Phase II

– DoWR – SPC - Drilling – proving of groundwater targets-assessment of yield

Next phases

• Phase III (Unfunded)

- DoWR – Potential Donor (UNICEF, MFAT, NFAT)

- Design of Water supply system

Next phases

• Phase III (Unfunded)

- DoWR – Community

- Establish and register Community Water Committee

- Trainings workshops

Plumbers training

O & M training

Financial Management training

Drinking water safety security plan training

Next phases

• Phase III (Unfunded)

- DoWR – Community

- Procurement and installation of pump, access points, reticulation and storage.

Next phases

• Phase III (Unfunded)

- Water System sustainability (Community)

Run down water assets

Poor service

Poor O&M

Low revenues

Re-build assets

Finance AssetsBuild

Neglect

Rebuild

Invest

Maintain

Operate

On the contrary

Next phases

• Phase III (Unfunded)

- Water System sustainability (Community)

Realizing that rural water committees are

not legal entities that cannot be held to

account for ‘quality of service’ standards;

thus improving the accountability for

compliance to ‘quality of service’ standards

by seeking to vest public water asset

ownership with a legal entity

VINAKA