BY RODRICK DESURI
Auki
Communities in Langalanga Lagoon, Malaita Province, have been experiencing water shortage since last month.
The water shortage is a result of the current drought season affecting the lagoon and surrounding parts of Malaita’s mainland.
In an interview with one of the community leaders, Deadly Kaonibata, he said they are now taking water from wells and boreholes on the mainland.
He said the water sources may not be safe for consumption, but they are handling it selectively because their tanks had emptied a few weeks ago.
“Our water tanks, which we depend on for water, have been emptied since last month.
“What we do now is paddle to the mainland to collect water from a well and borehole,” he said.
The water shortage was also observed on Sunday, June 21, during the Prime Minister’s visit to the Lalana community.
During the visit, the government officials brought almost 50 cartons of mineral water to the Lalana community, where the official programme for the Prime Minister’s visit took place.
A concerned Gwaedalo elder, John Reni, also shared the same sentiment, saying that each household is now saving the little water they have.
He said they fear once the dry spell will continue for much longer.
“We will be affected badly once this continues for another month.
“Right now, we have only very little reserved water, but all we have to do now is prepare and be ready, and seek where we will be collecting water once our little reserved water is gone,” he said.
Last week, the government issued an activation of the national contingency plan following the onset of conditions in Solomon Islands.
The National Disaster Management Office also said that they will be monitoring impacts of the El Niño/drought season.
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