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Water, Sanitation, and the Millennium Development Goals
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At 1%, the Pacific subregion’s population is the smallest among the subregions of Asia and the Pacific. The Pacific hosts great disparities in coverage between countries and between urban and rural areas. The following data was culled from the Asia Water Watch 2015 study by ADB, WHO, UNDP, and UNESCAP. |
WATER, SANITATION, AND MDGS
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With the exception of Australia, French Polynesia, Guam, and New Zealand most of the countries in this subregion need to work harder to reach MDG 7 Targets.
While almost all the urban populace had access to drinking water, the subregion seems to be generally losing ground in maintaining this service. Pollution, overexploitation of ground water, dilapidated systems, and insufficient investments have all contributed to the region’s stymied progress.
| The Pacific Total Population: 32 million (2002) |
Served Population |
Unserved Population |
|---|---|---|
| Water Supply Coverage | 28 million | 4 million |
| Urban | 23 million | Less than 1 million |
| Rural | 5 million | 4 million |
| Sanitation Coverage | 28 million | 4 million |
| Urban | 23 million | Less than 1 million |
| Rural | 4 million | 4 million |
There has been some general progress in sanitation coverage, as most countries in the subregion are expected to achieve the sanitation indicator by 2015 in at least their urban or rural areas. To speed up the subregion’s progress, a minimum annual investment of US$20 million over the next decade is necessary to reach MDG 7 Targets.
About 95% of the total population of this small island group in the South Pacific has access to drinking water supply. Water supply coverage is higher in urban areas (98%) than in rural areas (88%). Sanitation is at 100% coverage for both urban and rural areas.
The Cook Islands is expected to meet the MDG 7 Targets except water supply for rural areas which will need greater developments and investments.The Fiji islands did not have enough data on water supply. For its sanitation status, however, the country had 98% total coverage, and this is expected to reach 100% by 2015.
Kiribati ’s compounded annual growth rates put it on track to meet the MDG 7 Water Supply Targets indicator in rural areas, but present difficulties in achieving the same in cities. The small island country is making inroads in rural coverage, reaching 53% in 2002, which is still low but a noteworthy increase from 33% coverage in 1990. Kiribati’s progress in urban coverage, however, is not experiencing the same growth, only up by 1% in 2002 to reach 77%.
Kiribati is a prime example of the Pacific experience with increasing access to improved sanitation — low coverage levels to build on, uneven progress between urban and rural areas, incredible gains and rates of expansion, yet not at a rate to completely achieve the sanitation target by 2015. Kiribati had some of the lowest figures in 1990 in the subregion, as well as the whole of Asia. Total sanitation coverage was just 25% in 1990, with urban coverage at 33% and rural coverage at 21%. Kiribati made far greater progress in its urban areas than rural areas. Urban coverage rose almost 60% at a compounded rate of 5% annually, while rural coverage rose just 5% at 0.4% annually.
The Marshall Islands’ coverage rates are dramatically regressing from already high coverage rates in 1990. From 94% total water supply coverage in 1990, Marshall Islands lost coverage at an average of 1% annually, totaling a 12% decline until 2002. The country’s urban coverage rates fell at an even faster rate at 1.4%, leading to a 17% decrease in urban rates.
Fortunately, its rural rates show only—yet still unacceptably—an annual regression of 0.2% for a total 2% drop from 1990 figures, resting at 95% coverage in 2002. The island group will need more investments to provide urban and rural water supply and sanitation coverage to at least half of its unserved population by 2015.
Micronesia is excelling in both urban and rural coverage at rates that make it an early achiever of the water supply target.
Sanitation coverage, however, regressed from 30% in 1990 to only 28% in 2002. Only 61% of urban areas, and an alarming 14% of rural areas, have improved sanitation.
Around 85% of Palau’s total population enjoys adequate drinking water supply. Coverage in urban areas is at an upward trend. From 71% in 1990 and 79% in 2002, urban water supply coverage is expected to reach 100% by 2015. Conversely, rural water supply coverage is regressing from 99% in 1990 to 94% in 2002, and is projected to further decrease to 89% by 2015.
Sanitation coverage in Palau reached 83% in 2002, up from 66% in 1990. Urban sanitation coverage jumped from 72% in 1990 to 96% in 2002, and is projected to reach 100% coverage by the MDG deadline. Progress in rural areas is slow, however, posting 52% coverage in 2002 and is projected to increase slightly to 57% by 2015, making it difficult for Palau to achieve the rural sanitation target.
Papua New Guinea ’s water supply coverage in urban areas was at 88% in 2002; its rural coverage, however, was a dismal 32%, one of the lowest figures globally. Projections for 2015 see little change in coverage for the country.
Sanitation coverage for urban areas was at 67%, and rural areas had 41% coverage. By 2015, roughly half of the country will still be without improved sanitation, according to data trends.
Papua New Guinea is one of the most worrisome states in the Asia and Pacific region, if not globally, and is not expected to achieve MDG 7 Targets without the necessary investments for its water sector.
Samoa’s high coverage rates for water supply coverage have been declining since 1990. Urban water supply at a high 99% decreased to 91% in 2002 and is projected to dwindle to 76% by 2015. Rural water supply, set at 89% in 1990, slightly dropped to 88% and is expected to decline to 86% by 2015.
Sanitation coverage was at 98% in 1990 and increased to 100% in 2002. Urban sanitation, however, which posted 100% in both 1990 and 2002, is projected to dwindle to 91%. Rural sanitation coverage at 98% in 1990 reached 100% in 2002 and is expected to maintain this coverage level.
Samoa is expected to score high in rural sanitation, but will need investments to reach the other MDG 7 Targets indicators.
Around 70% of the Solomon Islands’ total population has access to drinking water supply in 2002. Urban areas have 94% coverage while rural areas have 65%. Sanitation coverage is at 31%, with stark disparity between urban areas (98%) and rural areas (18%).
With Tonga’s track record in water supply and sanitation, there is no question that the small island group will meet MDG 7 Targets. Posting 100% urban and rural water supply coverage in 1990 and 2002, the country is expected to sustain this coverage level by 2015.
Sanitation coverage is a bit behind with 97% coverage for the entire country. About 98% of urban areas have access to improve sanitation. The 96% rural sanitation coverage is projected to balloon to 100% by the end of the MDG deadline.
Tuvalu is on track to meet the water supply indicator in both urban and rural areas, but could easily achieve 100% total coverage given its high rate of coverage in 1990 and moderate rate of increased coverage from 1990 to 2002.
Sanitation is likewise expected to achieve 100% in urban and rural areas by 2015.
Urban water supply coverage declined from 93% in 1990 to 85% in 2002. It is expected to decline further to 69% by 2015. Rural water supply, on the other hand, marginally decreased from 53% to 52% between 1990 and 2002, and will likely be short of attaining MDG 7 Targets.
Sanitation coverage was at 50% in 2002, with 78% for urban areas and 42% for rural areas. Greater investments must be directed to Vanuatu’s water sector for the country to achieve MDG 7 Targets.
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