The WatSan programme is making
good progress to upgrade sanitation systems in Muri village. Tekao Herrmann of
WatSan advised that already, 20 properties with septic tanks in good condition
have had their septic tanks retrofitted with
“biofilters”.
Biofilters are scientifically
proven to advance the treatment of septic tank effluent by up to 40%.
“Another 200+ properties will
either need their septic tanks replaced or will require the installation of packaged
treatment plants because the existing system is inappropriate or failing,"
says Herrmann.
"The replacement tanks will
also have biofilters installed," Herrmann adds.
TIS Programme Manager, Jacqui
Evans, who previously worked on sanitation policy at the Ministry of Health
says she thinks the programme will lead to improvements in Cook Islands
sanitation overall.
“Simply getting this work done is
improving the technical knowledge of those involved in this programme,” says
Evans.
“This will have long-lasting
effects,” she explains.
WatSan is advertising for tenders
to upgrade sanitation systems on the other 200+ properties in Muri.
There is also a high-level tender
to perform a cost-benefit analysis examining the various options for sanitation
on Rarotonga. Options include:
1. Centralized sewerage where
sewage is piped to a central place, treated and then disposed either in the
ocean outside the reef or on forest/plantations inland,
2. Cluster systems where several
properties share one treatment system
3. On-site treatment where each
property treats and disposes of their wastewater on-site (the current
arrangement except for Tepuka-Tereora) and
4. A combination of cluster and
on-site systems.
The deadline for submission of
high-level tenders has closed and recommendations have been put forward to the
tender committee.
The WatSan programme is
implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning and funded by NZAid
and AusAID.
The programme was devised because
of concerns over increasing development on Rarotonga and Aitutaki's coastline
and the effect of inadequately treated wastewater on the health of the coastal
lagoon and coral reef.
TIS is represented on the
Programme Steering Group along with other government and non-government
stakeholders.
“We’re pleased with the progress,“
says Evans.
“This is not an easy process but
the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning is doing really well,” she says.
“It’s largely because of their
active and dedicated Acting Secretary, Donye Numa, their Programme Coordinator
Ken MacDonald, and their fabulous team, Tai Nooapii, Tekao Herrmann, and Paul
Maoate.”
Miss Cook Islands and Miss South
Pacific 2006 Krystina Kauvai was the education coordinator but she has now
moved to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management.
Evans says the programme will
assist with building the capacity needed to inspect and enforce the Public
Health Sewage Regulations 2008.
“This is needed urgently,” she
says.
Evans says she is uncertain if
enforcement capacity will be improved through supporting the Ministry of Health
or by altering the regulations so that MOIP has responsibility of regulating construction
and Health the sanitation responsibility.
“Whatever the case, building capacity for
enforcement is an essential part of the programme,” she says.
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