Marshall Islands : Ebeye Water Supply and Sanitation Project

Sovereign Project | 46346-001

Flickr photos from the 46346-001: Ebeye Water Supply and Sanitation Project album.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Blaik, Stephen
    Pacific Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Marshall Islands
  • Sector
    • Water and other urban infrastructure and services

Related Projects

Project Name Ebeye Water Supply and Sanitation Project
Project Number 46346-001
Country / Economy Marshall Islands
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Technical Assistance
Source of Funding / Amount
TA 8306-RMI: Ebeye Water Supply and Sanitation Project
Government of Australia US$ 500,000.00
Water Innovation Trust Fund US$ 500,000.00
TA 8306-RMI: Ebeye Water Supply and Sanitation Project
Government of Australia US$ 371,840.00
Strategic Agendas Environmentally sustainable growth
Inclusive economic growth
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Partnerships
Private sector development
Sector / Subsector

Energy / Electricity transmission and distribution

Water and other urban infrastructure and services / Urban sanitation - Urban water supply

Gender Effective gender mainstreaming
Description
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

1.The project will address factors which result in the high incidence of waterborne disease on Ebeye, an island within Kwajalein Atoll. Ebeye has an area of approximately 31 hectares and a population of more than 9,600, (population density is about 31,000 persons per km2). The project will improve access to safe water and sanitation and promote behavioral change to improve hygiene standards.

2.High incidence of waterborne disease. Ebeye has a high incidence of waterborne disease. The number of cases of waterborne disease, primarily gastroenteritis, recorded by Ebeye Hospital since 2001 averages 1,182 cases per year. The high incidence of waterborne disease is attributed to: (i) limited access to safe water; (ii) ineffective hygiene behaviors, particularly among children; and (iii) a dilapidated sanitation system.

3.Limited sources of fresh water. The primary sources of potable water for households on Ebeye are the public fresh water supply (84%) provided by the Kwajalein Atoll Joint Utilities Resources (KAJUR) Inc.; household rainwater tanks (15%); and bottled water (1%). Sources of potable water are household rainwater harvesting and a reverse osmosis desalination (RO) plant operated by KAJUR. Groundwater reserves are minimal and there are no freshwater streams. The Ebeye RO plant, commissioned in 2001, uses outdated RO technology and is energy inefficient and requires about 3 times more energy to produce the equivalent volume of potable water than modern RO plants. Currently, the RO plant produces 110,000 gallons potentially providing 11.4 gallons (44 liters) per day to every person. However, the potable water available from fresh water supply system is substantially less due to leakage from the fresh water supply network and uncontrolled overflows from water reservoirs. Rainwater harvesting is being increasingly utilized by households to increase access to potable water but is not secure due to seasonal rainfall patterns and more frequent droughts. In drought years water stored in rainwater tanks is rapidly consumed and rainwater tanks may remain unreplenished for long periods. However, climate projections for the Marshall Islands indicate higher air and sea temperatures and higher rainfall and rainwater harvesting will become an increasingly important supplementary household freshwater.

4.Need to enhance awareness on hygiene and water related issues. Public awareness and education on water related issues is low and awareness and education activities and outreach are limited. A long-duration hygiene and water awareness campaign is needed to foster sustained behavioral change required for improved hygiene and reduced incidence of waterborne diseases. Campaigns need to focus on children, which comprise 45% of Ebeye's population, through programs delivered in school and to womens groups.

5.Dilapidated sewer system. The Ebeye saltwater sewerage system has progressively failed due to lack of maintenance since it's commissioning in 1967. Salt water for the operation of the sewer system is sourced from 2 deep wells and is pumped through a dedicated saltwater reticulation network to most areas on Ebeye. Pressure in the saltwater reticulation mains is very low and is insufficient for operation of fire hydrants. The sewage treatment plant has not operated since 2001 and untreated sewage is discharged into the lagoon. The sewage pump stations have limited pumping capacity and frequently fail and there is significant infiltration of seawater into the sewers. The high seawater infiltration and pump failures often result in sewage overflows from manholes and pump stations into the streets. Overflows from the sewerage network and discharge of raw sewage to the lagoon present a serious health hazard. Water quality testing by the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that the marine water quality at several locations on Ebeye's lagoon foreshore does not meet EPA standards due to sewage contamination.

6.Unsustainable water and sewerage services. Over the past 6 fiscal years, KAJUR has recorded operating losses of $2 million or more. Electricity services account for about 88% of KAJUR's operating revenue. Water supply and sewerage services are provided by KAJUR free of charge. KAJUR has financed the gap between expenditure and operating revenues through grants from the United States. KAJUR has developed a reform strategy to improve its financial sustainability through improved operational efficiency and increased revenues. The reform strategy includes plans to install consumer meters and the introduction of volumetric-based charges for water supply and sewerage services. However, tariff policies have yet to be developed. Asset planning and improved management is essential for KAJUR to become financially and technically sustainable.

7.The project is consistent with RMI's strategic development strategy, Vision 2018, for improved hygiene and sanitation and reliable and affordable water and sanitation infrastructure. The project is included in RMI Country Operations Business Plan 20132015 which includes a strategic focus of infrastructure development. The project is aligned with: (i) ADB's Strategy 2020 to contribute to improved public health through water and sanitation investments; (ii) ADB's Approach to Assisting the Pacific (20102014) to improve the supply and delivery of water and sanitation services; and (iii) ADB's Water Policy and Water Operational Plan 20112020 to increase efficiency and productivity in the delivery of water services and increase investments in sanitation and wastewater management.

Impact
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome
Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)
Geographical Location
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design Consultations with RMI National Government and KAJUR conducted in April and August 2012 and in January and September 2013. Stakeholder meetings conducted in Ebeye in August 2012 and January and September 2013. Kwajalein Leadership was consulted and endorsed further processing of the project in February 2013. Further consultations with the Kwajalein Leadership were conducted in September and November 2013 and in January and February 2014.
During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
Consulting Services

A firm will be engaged in accordance with ADB Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2010, as amended from time to time), using quality- and cost-based selection procedures (90:10) and a simplified technical proposal, to assist the PMU to prepare the project. A total of 13 international consultants and 4 national consultants will be engaged over a 15-month period, for a total of 28.0 person months of international input and 23.5 person months of national input. The PPTA, among other tasks, will address the following aspects relating to the ensuing loan project: (i) detailed grant executing agency and implementing agency capacity assessment, and suggested remedial action plan to build capacity to minimize procurement and financial management risks and the design of disbursement arrangements and fund flow mechanism for the ensuing project, based on the results of the assessment; (ii) proposed grant related procurement plan; and (iii) indicative implementation schedule with proposed procurement milestones.

Responsible ADB Officer Blaik, Stephen
Responsible ADB Department Pacific Department
Responsible ADB Division Urban, Social Development & Public Management Division, PARD
Executing Agencies
Office of the Chief Secretary
Timetable
Concept Clearance -
Fact Finding -
MRM -
Approval 20 Dec 2012
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 15 Sep 2015

TA 8306-RMI

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
20 Dec 2012 18 Jan 2013 18 Jan 2013 06 Jun 2014 31 May 2017 02 Nov 2017
Financing Plan/TA Utilization Cumulative Disbursements
ADB Cofinancing Counterpart Total Date Amount
Gov Beneficiaries Project Sponsor Others
0.00 1,371,840.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,371,840.00 17 Jun 2022 1,319,106.20

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Title Document Type Document Date
Ebeye Water Supply and Sanitation Project: Final Report Consultants' Reports Mar 2015
Ebeye Water Supply and Sanitation Project Concept Papers Oct 2012

Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

None currently available.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

No tenders for this project were found.

Contracts Awarded

No contracts awarded for this project were found

Procurement Plan

None currently available.