Civil society groups and community partners provide feedback on the proposed Mineral Resources Bill 2025 in Honiara.
Solomon Water wishes to advise all our customers in Auki, Noro and Tulagi that, as per advisories from the Solomon Islands Meteorological Services concerning the current El-Nino and its drought impacts, Solomon Water is now observing deteriorating water levels at its sources in Auki, Noro and Tulagi. These deteriorating water level may lead to no water supply or intermittent water supply.
Solomon Water is mobilizing and progressively implementing its EL-Nino Response plan for Auki, Noro and Tulagi and is also working closely with the Drought Advisory Group and our counterparts from the different government ministries. As part of its response efforts, Solomon Water has increased monitoring of water sources and is carrying out routine inspections and maintenance of critical water supply infrastructure to further strengthen system reliability.
Solomon Water advises that the reduced rainfall and prolonged dry weather will affect water availability and place additional pressure on water supply systems in urban areas in Honiara, Auki, Noro and Tulagi, leading to no water supply or intermittent supply of water to its customer.
Customers are encouraged to take the following precautionary measures to conserve water and help ensure that available supplies are managed responsibly.
- Use water wisely: Avoid unnecessary water use and limit activities that waste water.
- Store water safely: Store an adequate supply of water for essential household needs where possible, using clean, covered containers.
- Avoid unnecessary water use: Reduce excessive washing, hosing, and other non-essential activities.
- Report Leaks: Promptly report any visible water leaks or suspected illegal connection to Solomon Water Customer Service.
Solomon Water also strongly appeals to the public to respect its water supply infrastructure. Vandalism and illegal tapping into the water supply system will only aggravate the issue of no water supply or intermittent water supply.
Solomon Water Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ray Andresen, emphasized that the utility is taking structured, preventative steps to mitigate severe disruptions.
“While we are facing lower-than-average rainfall, our teams are working around the clock to monitor conditions and strengthen our infrastructure,” Mr. Andresen stated. “Should water levels dictate it, we are fully prepared to introduce temporary, scheduled water rationing to manage our shared resources responsibly. Our goal is to ensure continuity of essential services for everyone.”
“Conserving water is a shared community responsibility. We urge households, businesses, and institutions to adopt water conservation practices immediately. By acting proactively today, we collectively protect our limited water resources and reduce the strain on our network during this dry period,” Mr. Andresen added.
Solomon Water will continue to provide transparent, regular updates on water source conditions and any necessary conservation or rationing measures as the situation develops.
SOURCE// SOLOMON WATER PRESS RELEASE
