Today, the villages of Narocivo and Salia, of Nayau Island in Lau can access and enjoy the benefits of clean running water to help transform lives and create a healthier, more sustainable future.
The turning point came for the two villages when the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources (MLMR) responded to the urgent request submitted by the village Mata-ni-Tikina’s due the insufficient water supply mainly experienced during dry seasons and the contamination of existing water sources during heavy rain.
Despite the encountered challenges namely the rugged terrain and long distances in the pipe-laying, irregularity of the boat schedules delivering materials to the island, and network issues for communication the Geological Services Division of the Ministry’s Mineral Resources Department (MRD) was committed and completed the project which started with groundwater drilling in 2019.
In the past, the two villages relied on a communal well, spring, reticulated water system and rainwater as their water sources, which was unreliable and posed significant health risks.
The successful $200,000 groundwater project has provided significant relief to a total of 67 households with a population of 124 villagers in Narocivo Village and 52 households and population of 116 villagers in Salia.