BY CHRIS ALEX
Rosie Sanderson, a Sanitation Expert, shed light on the critical sanitation challenges faced by Honiara during her address at the recent 16th Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) Conference in Honiara.
Speaking before local and regional stakeholders, Sanderson called for a “Citywide Inclusive Sanitation” (CWIS) approach to address the city’s growing sanitation needs, an initiative supported by the World Bank’s Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership (GWSSP).
As Honiara grapples with rapid urbanisation, particularly in informal settlements lie outside the city’s official boundaries, Sanderson emphasised that sanitation services must be expanded to cover the broader “Greater Honiara” area.
As informal settlements continue to expand without clear jurisdictional oversight, the city’s sanitation services are becoming more fragmented, with unclear lines of responsibility between local, like Guadalcanal provincial, and national authorities.
“Urban growth is pushing beyond the official city limits, and we need to consider Greater Honiara not just within the city boundaries when we look at sanitation services,” Sanderson remarked, noting that the city’s rapid expansion makes it increasingly difficult to implement a sustainable sanitation service model, especially as many residents in informal housing rely on inconsistent incomes.
90 pecent of Honiara’s population depends on on-site sanitation systems, such as septic tanks and pit toilets. While only 10% of the city is served by Solomon Water’s sewerage system, plans are underway to extend this coverage. However, for the majority, on-site sanitation systems will remain the primary method of waste disposal in the foreseeable future.
A significant concern raised by Sanderson was the alarming number of non-functional toilets in informal settlements. Recent surveys revealed that only half of the toilets in these areas are operational, creating a public health risk.
Sanderson highlighted the increasing risk of open defecation, particularly in densely populated areas where sanitation services are scarce.
“While there is demand for toilets, it’s more about upgrading the existing infrastructure and ensuring that it’s functioning properly,” Sanderson explained.
The current sanitation service chain in Honiara is a complex network of various actors, including the Honiara City Council, private operators, and Solomon Water.
The City Council plays a vital role in providing low-cost collection services, crucial for low-income households, but the absence of a clear regulatory framework poses challenges. Sanderson pointed out that while private operators manage much of the fecal sludge collection, they are not regulated, leading to inconsistencies in pricing and service reliability.
Furthermore, the inadequate management of fecal sludge disposal at the Ranadi landfill is a growing concern. Trucks currently dump waste into an open pit, which, due to poor management, results in environmental hazards, including leachate contamination in nearby creeks. With the landfill set to close under an Asian Development Bank (ADB) project, there is an urgent need to identify a more sustainable and safer disposal solution.
One of the most pressing issues is the lack of adequate treatment and disposal options for the city’s fecal sludge. While Solomon Water manages a few communal septic systems, they serve only a small fraction of the population. With many households relying on poorly maintained on-site systems, the risk to public health remains high.
In response to these challenges, Sanderson proposed a dual-market model for sanitation services, which would see both public and private operators working together to improve collection and transportation.
The Honiara City Council would continue providing low-cost services while taking on a more prominent role in regulating the industry. Additionally, Sanderson suggested that Solomon Water could lead efforts to construct a fecal sludge management treatment plant with support from the World Bank’s WASH.
The urgency of addressing Honiara’s sanitation issues has never been greater, as the city’s population continues to grow, and its sanitation infrastructure remains under pressure. Without strategic reforms and adequate financing, the city faces significant risks to public health and environmental sustainability.
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