Kiribati : South Tarawa Sanitation Improvement Sector Project (formerly Tarawa Sanitation Improvement Project)

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban sewerage

Almost 50% of Kiribati's population of 103,466 lives in South Tarawa, the country's political and economic center. South Tarawa's main urban areas of Bairiki, Betio and Bikenibeu have a combined population of 24,171. Rapid urbanization has resulted in an annual average population growth rate of 4.4% since 2005. The average population density in South Tarawa is 3,193 /km2, and it is as high as 8,990/km2 in the most densely settled urban areas. Population pressures combined with uncontrolled urban settlement have resulted in overcrowding that has put stress on critical public infrastructure and the natural environment.

The public sewerage system operated by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) services around one quarter of South Tarawa's population. To conserve limited freshwater supplies, a saltwater reticulation system supplies seawater for toilet flushing. The traditional practice of defecating in the open is widespread and is reportedly engaged in by almost half of South Tarawa's population. Leakage of effluent from both pit latrines and poorly constructed and maintained septic tanks contributes to contamination of groundwater.

The health impacts of poor sanitation infrastructure in South Tarawa are evident. Inadequate residential sanitation infrastructure is a key contributor to contamination of freshwater and near-shore areas of the lagoon. Inadequate handwashing and consumption of untreated water and contaminated shellfish have resulted in widespread gastrointestinal disease. Typhoid outbreaks occurred in South Tarawa in 2009 and 2010. The infant mortality rate in Kiribati of 46 per 1,000 live births is among the highest in the Pacific. This can be attributed in part to infantile diarrhea, which is directly linked to inadequate sanitation and poor public hygiene.

Weak capacity to manage existing sanitation assets and operations among PUB and Ministry of Public Works and Utilities (MPWU) staff has contributed to chronic under performance of the sewerage system. Sewerage services are provided free of charge to customers. Operations and maintenance (O&M) activities are funded through government transfers, while periodic capital investments in system rehabilitation and upgrading have been externally financed by development partners. The current situation has resulted in low sustainability. In the absence of adequate resources, no preventive or routine maintenance is carried out, and instead, maintenance is deferred until the system fails. This situation imposes high costs on both the government and the local population in terms of lost productivity, health expenditures, and degradation of freshwater resources and coastal areas.

The problem of inadequate sanitation infrastructure is compounded by limited public awareness of the links between sanitation, hygiene, and health. This has resulted in low demand and willingness to pay for improved sanitation facilities. Households do not perceive the full benefits associated with improved sewerage services, nor the large negative externalities linked to behavior such as beach defecation and not washing one's hands. A widespread and sustained public awareness and education campaign specifically targeting groups such as women and children is required to bring about improved hygiene behavior and to create demand for improved sanitation.

The proposed project is consistent with the Kiribati Development Plan 2012-2015, which commits to improving health outcomes, strengthening governance in the provision of public services, and investing in social and economic infrastructure. The Project is also included in the Kiribati Country Partnership Strategy 2010-2014 which aims to reduce poverty and promote economic opportunity by improving the delivery of sustainable infrastructure services. The proposed Project supports the country's National Sanitation Policy; National Water Resources Policy; and the Government of Kiribati's Water Supply, Sanitation, and Solid Waste Management Program for South Tarawa that was developed in 2010 with assistance from the Pacific Infrastructure Advisory Centre. This program is intended to support a whole-of-sector approach and promote effective coordination of development partner-supported activities in the sector.

1) Civil Works package 1 - Rehabilitation of Sewerage & Saltwater Systems package commenced in 2014 and was expected to be completed by December 2017. However, time extension was allowed as the original Bill of Quantities (BOQ) had indicated approx. 11 km of sewer to be cleaned; whereas the actual length was 28 km. Progress was slow due the deep deposits of sediment in the mains and equipment breakdowns. Following the inspection of the entire sewer system, it was concluded that the project works should include complete cleaning to all pipes to avoid re-sedimentation. Works were 100% completed by in July 2018.

2) Civil Works package 2 - Upgrading of three Ocean Outfalls was awarded in August 2016 and completed in August 2018.

3) Onsite Sanitation Septic Tanks installations Contract for this package was signed in April 2018 to install the initial lot of 10 tanks and further variation signed in Dec 2018 for installation additional 10 -12 tanks funds permitting. Work on onsite septic tank toilets were concluded in December 2019 with a total of 16 installations.

4) Community engagement and awareness activities, and the capacity development activities for the Public Utilities Board staff concluded in July 2019.

5) Establishment of the Sanitation Maintenance Fund was finally concluded in December 2019 with the disbursement of the seed Funding from ADB. The second reading of the proposed Bill was passed by the Parliament in November 2018. Supporting Financial Management logistics were finalized and endorsed by the relevant steering committee in early 2019. The SMF account was then set up and made operational in November 2019 with both the ADB and government counterpart funding deposited in the account.

1. Sanitation and hygiene practices among South Tarawa's population improved.

2. Wastewater in South Tarawa effectively managed by the PUB.

3. MPWU and PUB will have the capacity to plan and manage water and sanitation services.

4. Adequate funds available to PUB to finance required sanitation O&M.

5. Project management and implementation services by MFED and MPWU ensure effective and efficient project implementation.

Works on the first civil works on Rehabilitation of Sewerage & Saltwater Systems package commenced in 2014 and completed in July 2018. Second civil works package for Upgrading of Ocean Outfalls has been awarded in July 2016 and completed in August 2018. Behavior change will have to be monitored going forward.

Completed

The project has a gender action plan that also reports on % of women related activities and achievements.

At the completion of the project, the water quality testing was encouraged to continue.

Community engagement carried out by the Project's Community Mobilizers with various communities involved majority of women.

Completed

PUB staff have been working closely with the contractor on sewer cleaning as part of their work program.

Plans for tariff increase approved and in place. Will be implemented in phases.

--Policy paper on Sanitation Maintenance Fund was introduced to parliament in August 2018. Passed through a 2nd reading in November 2018. Sanitation Maintenance Fund was established in November 2019.

--A fair number of female staff recruited as community mobilizers and trained together with PMU and PIU staff.

--Completed

Project Management and Implementaiton Consultants commenced services on 16 July 2012.

Recruitment of Sanitation and Gender Community Mobilizers posted on 8 March 2013.