Study shows contamination in village rainwater tanks a health concern
29 November, 2023. A study by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and the Asian Development Bank, has shown that rainwater tanks are often contaminated and unsafe to drink if not managed and cleaned regularly.
The findings come from a recent pilot study on village water supply systems in Tongatapu presented last week at one of two workshops hosted by the Ministry of Health, Tonga Water Board and ADB.
The study provides a full picture of water supply and water safety in three pilot villages – Fo’ui, Te’ekiu and Fatuma. Results of the study presented by Ministry of Health officers showed that people mainly drink rainwater from rainwater tanks, but that these sources are often contaminated with E. coli, an indicator of fecal contamination.
The only houses with tank water free of E. coli were those that had been disinfected as part of post-disaster activities in 2022.
These results point to a need to improve rainwater tank management by cleaning out gutters and roofs, annual tank cleans, and ensuring mesh filters are in place to prevent vermin from entering the tank. This guidance is available in the recently published and government approved Guide to Safe Rainwater Harvesting in Tonga, available in Tongan language. People can also access disinfection tablets and guidance from the Ministry of Health for household tanks. The results highlight a need to improve sanitation and hygiene practices.
Town and District Officers and other key stakeholders, including Non-Government Organizations and donors, joined the workshop to review the study findings and assess the key issues related to village water service delivery.
The study included the mapping of community water assets, and water quality testing of both groundwater and rainwater sources. Village Water Committees, led by Town Officers, manage the water systems, but often struggle to raise sufficient funds through tariffs to address both maintenance and replacement costs of the community distribution systems.
Meanwhile, twenty-eight people from 11 agencies joined Tonga Water Board and the ADB for a workshop to progress TWB’s Water Safety Plan for the Nuku’luofa Water Supply Network earlier in the week.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health, Tonga Water Board and other government and non-government organizations joined the ADB-led workshop to progress the Water Safety Plan and identify opportunities for cross-sectoral collaboration to reduce risk in TWB’s water supply operations.
Opening the workshop Ministry of Health CEO Dr Reynold ‘Ofanoa commended TWB for their work to progress the update of their Water Safety Plan.
“Nuku’alofa is a growing city with increasing water needs, especially through times of disaster as we experienced last year,” Dr ‘Ofanoa said.
“We all have a role contributing to reducing risks to our piped water supply,” he said.
The two workshops were an initiative of the Government of the Kingdom of Tonga and ADB, supported by ADB’s regional Technical Assistance project (TA 6551), Strengthening WASH Practices and Hygiene Behavioral Change in the Pacific.
